FDBusiness.com

Kepak, a leading Irish food company, has invested €8 million in its Kilbeggan facility in County Westmeath to enhance market access, quality, and efficiency. This strategic upgrade positions the Kilbeggan plant as a central hub for exporting premium-quality Irish meat. The investment is part of a broader €28 million investment by Kepak across its Irish sites, €8 million of which was supported through the Government’s Capital Investment Scheme (CIS) for the Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products, administered by Enterprise Ireland.

 The Kilbeggan investment – €2 million of which was advanced by the CIS programme – focused on increasing capacity, and establishing a more efficient and sustainable process flow at the site.

Kepak Kilbeggan employs 86 people in the midlands and west of Ireland and is a significant contributor to the local economy, investing an estimated €110 million annually. Kepak’s economic contribution is made up of approximately €3 million in wages, €2 million in additional support services and €105 million in livestock purchases through the creation of jobs, use of local services providers, and support of local famers.

Kepak employs 4,500 people across 13 manufacturing sites in Ireland and the UK, with sales offices in Europe and Asia. Active in over 40 countries worldwide, the company generates an annual turnover of approximately €1.6 billion. Kepak offers a broad range of fresh and value-added meat products, serving both the foodservice and retail sectors with leading brands such as Big Al’s, Rustlers, Crafty Chef, Francis Street, and John Stone.

Simon Walker, Kepak CEO, commented: “This investment in Kepak Kilbeggan reinforces our commitment to the Agri community and to sustainable growth. By enhancing our facilities, we’re ensuring market diversification, export growth, and long-term business development for Kepak. This upgraded site positions us as a key hub for showcasing premium-quality Irish meat on the world stage, while supporting the local economy. Sustainability is central to this investment. With significant improvements in energy efficiency, water usage, and environmental impact, we are advancing our goal of a sustainable farming future. Our partnerships with farmers, customers, and colleagues are the backbone of our success, and we’re proud to continue leading in both innovation and environmental stewardship.”

Jenny Melia, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:“Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies like Kepak to continue to grow and scale, and to support job growth and expand in a sustainable manner. We believe that Irish-owned enterprises can, over time, be the prime driver of the Irish economy, and companies like Kepak will play an important role in realising that ambition.  Enterprise Ireland is proud to support this new facility at Kepak Kilbeggan under the 2021 Capital Investment Scheme, which aims to build the resilience of the Irish agri-food sector, and through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund (BAR). On behalf of Enterprise Ireland, I would congratulate Kepak for their agility and innovation, with the aim of driving export growth and job creation and wish them every future success.”

The newly upgraded facility will allow Kepak to enhance production efficiency while reducing its environmental footprint. This upgrade follows the validation of Kepak’s emissions targets by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), confirming that the company’s goals align with the reductions needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Kepak aims to cut its Scope 1 (fuel consumption) and Scope 2 (electricity) emissions by 50.4% (20,057 tonnes of CO2) by 2030—equivalent to the energy required to power over 2,500 homes for a year. Additionally, Kepak is committed to reducing its Scope 3 (purchased goods and services) emissions by 30% (887,164 tonnes of CO2) by 2030, comparable to the average annual emissions of 197,421 petrol cars.

CAPTION:

Pictured (l to r): Simon Walker, CEO of Kepak Group; Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke; Jenny Melia, Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland; and Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue.