Centre of Excellence a major boost for Mitchelstown
The Irish Dairy Board (IDB), as part of its strategy to grow the iconic Kerrygold brand, are pushing ahead with major plans to build a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for butter production and packing in Mitchelstown on a greenfield site adjacent to the existing Dairygold milk processing complex at Castlefarm.
The planning application for the development is expected to be lodged next month and then, subject to planning approval, the Centre of Excellence is due to be operational in 2016.
INFORMATION MEETING
A project information meeting will take place in Mitchelstown Library on this Saturday (19th) from 10am to 12 noon which will give people an opportunity to meet the IDB team and answer any questions they may have (see separate story elsewhere this issue).
The €30 million development which was first announced in April of this year, has been greeted with enthusiasm and anticipation in The Avondhu readership area.
This week as the project moves closer to the application for planning, local politician Frank O’Flynn described it as ‘great news for Mitchelstown’.
“This is wonderful news as it will bring with it, much needed employment - both at the construction phase and when it is in full production. A couple of hundred jobs will be created in construction and when commissioned, will see 50 people in secure employment.”
Frank said it augers well for the future both for dairy farmers and the general workforce in the area “and is a vote of confidence going forward in Dairygold”.
BENEFITS TO MITCHELSTOWN
Kevin Lane, IDB CEO, said it is very fitting that Kerrygold would find its new global home in Mitchelstown, ‘the heartland of Irish dairy’.
“We are confident our development will bring significant economic benefit to the Mitchelstown community and we look forward to building a long sustainable relationship together,” he said.
Some of those benefits include: Availing of synergies with the existing Dairygold complex, creating 50 new jobs directly and up to 200 additional jobs during construction; placing Mitchelstown on a world stage as the home of the iconic, world renowned Kerrygold brand; displays Mitchelstown’s position as an ideal location to do business; adding value to Irish dairy producers locally and increasing economic activity in the Mitchelstown area.
Published:
Thursday 17th July 5:35pm
