29th June 2018
Dairy Nutrition company Volac invests in Ireland
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD, announced a €3.3 million investment by dairy nutrition company Volac in a new purpose-built finishing and packing facility near Kells, Co. Meath to begin producing milk replacers in Ireland. Up to 16 new, high quality, manufacturing jobs will be created, supported by the Irish government through Enterprise Ireland.
The long-term aim is to source selected Irish raw materials to supplement fat-filled Imunopro® whey protein bases supplied from Volac’s factory in Felinfach, Wales. The new facility in Mullagh will enable Volac to meet the needs of its milk replacer customers in the Irish and overseas markets as the business continues to grow.
Minister Heather Humphreys TD said: “Volac’s investment in a new finishing and packaging facility with the creation of 16 new jobs supported by the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, is welcome news for Mullagh, Kells and the surrounding areas. Driving job creation in the regions is a priority for the Government and this investment is good news for the local economy. Ireland’s agri-food industry is part of our heritage and, combined with our reputation for strategic innovative activity and ease of doing business, we are well-positioned to attract foreign direct investment in the area. I am committed to ensuring we have the right conditions and supports in place to enhance any opportunities for job creation in the regions.”
David Neville, Managing Director, Volac Animal Nutrition said: “In 2008, Volac purchased the Golden Maverick brand portfolio, Ireland’s leading range of animal milk replacers. Since then the Irish milk replacer market has seen fantastic growth which we expect to continue in line with the ambitions of the Irish dairy industry. The investment which we announce today reflects Volac’s confidence in the growing demand for milk replacer in both Irish and export markets. We look forward to continuing our close working relationship with Enterprise Ireland”.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD added: “The food and drink sectors are strategically important to Ireland’s economic future and our exports are world renowned. Volac’s investment in Meath is very welcome, reflecting Ireland’s excellent track record in the agri-food sector in general, and expertise in dairy nutrition in particular. “
Orla Battersby, Manager, Food Division, Enterprise Ireland concluded: “Responsible for food related foreign direct investment into Ireland, Enterprise Ireland proactively engages international companies in the food and beverage sectors to grow and develop their businesses in Ireland and profit from the world-class food research and development infrastructure that exists here. Volac is a growing, ambitious company and Ireland has many advantages including a critical mass of companies for Volac to collaborate with in the provision of ingredients and Irish raw materials. The company joins the Enterprise Ireland food FDI community that employs 10,000 people in Ireland and is responsible for 35% of all Irish food exports. This is great news for Mullagh, Kells and we look forward to continuing to work with Volac as it grows and expands its operations while creating jobs here in Ireland.”
Ends
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
Press Enquiries
Andy Richardson, Head of Corporate Affairs, Volac andy.richardson@volac.com
07720 561201
Marika MacCarvill, Press and Media Relations, Enterprise Ireland 01 7272857 / 086 1712568 marika.maccarvill@enterprise-ireland.com
Notes to editors:
Volac is a privately-owned business based near Cambridge, UK. The company has seven production facilities (five of them in the UK, one in The Netherlands, and one in Malaysia) where we manufacture and supply high quality dairy nutrition products to the global market. We also play a leading role in the dairy industry and are ambitious for its future growth and prosperity
Our Purpose is to provide dairy nutrition for a healthier world. We anticipate an insatiable appetite for dairy and are helping to build a growing awareness of the value of protein. We have the passion and expertise to create industry leading products and we remain agile as a business to respond to our customers’ needs
Volac’s products encompass four areas:
High-performance whey protein for lifestyle and sports nutrition markets
Nutritional products and feeding systems for improved productivity in the agricultural market
A consumer business delivering the benefits of protein through the Upbeat brand
Lactose rich dairy ingredients for food, beverage and animal nutrition manufacturers
Volac has been producing high quality nutritional dairy products for over 40 years
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