Ornua’s £32.2M dairy facility created 65 jobs

The new facility has the capacity to produce up 50,000t of butter a year and will be home to Ornua’s customer innovation centre.

Ornua hoped the plant, sited in Mitchelstown, County Cork, would help build the company’s global supply chain to help support its growth target and the development of its brand.

The plant was officially opened by Michael Creed, Ireland’s minister for agriculture, food and the marine, minister for jobs, enterprise and innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor and Ornua chairman Aaron Forde.

Ornua ceo Kevin Lane said the opening of Kerrygold Park would help complete the value chain and grow the business beyond a traditional butter brand.

‘Ambitious plans’

“Kerrygold Park is core to our ambitious plans to develop the Kerrygold brand from a butter brand to a dairy brand,” said Lane.

“Not only will the new facility significantly enhance our production, it also greatly improves our innovation capability and our ability to deliver premium dairy products to consumers around the world.

“This is the most effective way of securing value for Irish dairy farmers.”

Creed praised Ornua’s commitment to raising the profile of Ireland’s dairy industry on to the global stage. He also said the new facility would boost the local economy.

“By opening new markets and developing new products, Ornua is playing a key role in delivering the demand for Irish product to meet increased supply resulting from the abolition of milk quotas,” said Creed.

‘Future of the Irish dairy industry’

“The opening of Kerrygold Park is a major vote of confidence in the future of the Irish dairy industry. Furthermore, this new facility offers a significant jobs boost to North Cork and the South West Region.”

O’Connor added that the 65 jobs created were excellent news for Mitchelstown and North Cork.

She also said Ornua’s strategy to develop Kerrygold as a global dairy brand would “contribute to increasing trade and employment in rural communities throughout Ireland”.

The establishment of Kerrygold Park is the latest step in Ornua’s business growth programme to build and develop valuable routes to market for Irish dairy products. 

Ornua purchased 286,000t of dairy products from Ireland’s dairy processors in 2015, up 16% on the previous year. It expected this figure to grow by 30% in 2016.