FDBusiness.com

Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) has officially opened its newly-expanded butter plant in Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny. The €17 million investment and expansion at GII’s milk-processing facility has created one of Europe’s largest butter plants processing up to 2,400 metric tonnes (MT) per week, and a centre of excellence for lactic butter in Ireland. Global growth of butter consumption is predicted to increase by +4.5% per annum until 2018. GII is Ireland’s leading dairy ingredients company, processing almost 2 billion litres of milk or 30% of Ireland’s milk pool into a range of dairy ingredients for export to more than 50 countries. This investment was supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.

The €17 million upgrade brings to €106 million the total investment in GII’s milk processing facility at Ballyragget over the last six years and includes – the installation of an additional 12MTper hour churn and butter silo; a robotic packing line with a capacity of 18 MTs/hour; and improved intake and storage facilities. These investments will allow the plant to increase capacity by almost 50%: from 55,000 MTs to 80,000MTs of butter per annum. GII employs almost 700 employees across five sites, with 400 of those based in Ballyragget’s milk processing facility. Glanbia has a long history at Ballyragget, having built what was then the biggest processing facility in Europe there in 1966, when Avonmore Creameries was formed.

Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, comments: “The opening of our expanded butter facility represents an important step in our programme of extensive investment in Ireland. We have ambitious plans for growth and have invested €235 million in Ireland in recent times, including €17 million in this project. Our heritage in butter-making in Ballyragget dates back almost 50 years and our newly upgraded facility ensures that the most modern techniques are utilised to deliver a top quality product to our global customers.”

Michael Cantwell, Food Division Manager, Enterprise Ireland, says: “Food is Ireland’s number one export and the continued investment in facilities like this – supported by Enterprise Ireland – further solidifies Ireland’s standing as a world-leader in the dairy industry. Our reputation internationally for sustainable food production is reinforced through the leadership position shown by companies like Glanbia Ingredients Ireland. Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Glanbia Ingredients Ireland in developing its expansion and investment plans for the post milk quota era, and we are delighted to support them in the upgrade of their Ballyragget Butter Facility.”

CAPTION:

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan has officially opened Glanbia Ingredients Ireland’s (GII) newly-expanded butter plant in Ballyragget. Photographed with the commissioner is from left: Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland; Liam Herlihy, Chairman of Glanbia Plc; and Joe Brien, Butter plant manager, GII.