Dale Farm Invests £7 Million in New Cheese Retail Packing Facility
Dale Farm, Northern Ireland’s leading dairy company, has opened a new cheese retail packing facility at its Dunmanbridge plant near Cookstown. The Dunmanbridge plant, one of the most advanced of its kind in Europe, houses the latest cheese making and processing technology.
Supported by Invest Northern Ireland, the new packing facility will enable Dale Farm to produce a wider range of packed consumer cheese. Ultimately, this investment will enhance the company’s competitiveness in global markets enabling it to compete for national and international contracts. Completion of this new facility is the latest stage of Dale Farm’s current investment programme, enabling 60 new jobs to be created.
David Dobbin, Chief Executive of Dale Farm, comments: “This new cheese processing and packing facility will help us continue to deliver strong growth in our cheddar sales in both domestic and export markets, especially in the faster growing convenience segment of the market. Over the last two years we have more than doubled our sales in consumer cheese products.”
Owned by United Dairy Farmers, a co-operative of 1,300 dairy farmers, and employing more than 1,000 people, Dale Farm produces an extensive range of products including milk, cream, cheese, yogurt and spreads, which are available worldwide.
David Dobbin adds: “It is vital to the farmers that own our Co-op that we can add value to their milk and this latest £7 million investment by Dale Farm will help sustain our local dairy farmers and employment at this plant as well as support the continued growth in our business.”
Northern Ireland Economy Minister Simon Hamilton, who opened the new packing facility, comments: “The dairy industry forms an integral part of Northern Ireland’s food and drink processing sector and continues to make an important contribution to the regional economy. Dale Farm is a great example of the many award winning, export focused producers who are investing in innovative measures to support their growth and their continued contribution to Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food industry.”
CAPTION:
Economy Minister Simon Hamilton opening Dale Farm’s new cheese retail packaging facility at Dunmanbridge near Cookstown. Pictured left to right: John Dunlop, United Dairy Farmers Chairman; Nick Whelan, Dale Farm Group Chief Executive; Economy Minister Simon Hamilton; and David Dobbin, Dale Farm Group retiring Chief Executive.
