Irish dairy firm Glanbia has entered a strategic partnership with Royal A-ware, a Netherlands-based global cheese and dairy producer.
As part of the agreement, the two groups will develop a new new continental cheese manufacturing facility in Belview, Co Kilkenny, Ireland, close to Glanbia's existing infant nutrition plant.
The firms will invest around €140 million in the new facility, which is due to be completed in 2022, and will have a production capacity of 450 litres of milk per annum.
Approximately 80 full-time jobs will be created at the facility, and a further 100 temporary jobs will be created during the construction phase.
Diversified Portfolio
“This new partnership will create a new route to market for Glanbia Ireland suppliers’ milk and diversify our portfolio of consumer dairy products and ingredients,” commented Jim Bergin, chief executive of Glanbia Ireland.
“Since 2014 we have invested €343 million to facilitate a 42% increase in milk production by Glanbia farmers. This proposed new investment is now required to diversify our product mix and to ensure that our suppliers have the opportunity to fulfil their growth ambitions.”
In addition, Jan Anker, chief executive of Royal A-Ware Group, said that the Dutch group was proud to announce this new partnership.
“With this announcement, Royal A-ware is taking another step towards achieving its goals of working with strategic partners to build innovative and sustainable agri-food chains and offering its customers an enhanced product portfolio,” he said.
“It also gives our company access to additional volumes of high-quality cheese through a local supply chain.”
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
