Planning lodged for Ornua factory

Ornua have applied for planning permission as they prepare for an extension to their Mitchelstown plant, that will see 30 full time jobs created.

As first revealed by The Avondhu last December, Ornua is set to make a €40m investment in their Kerrygold manufacturing hub in the town.

It will be a largescale build of a new churn and processing infrastructure, there will be new packaging lines and more storage space. The upgraded facility will also involve additional office spaces and personnel facilities.

The project is set to see 120 jobs created during construction and then 30 permanent positions at the plant.

The planning application, which was received by Cork County Council on March 2nd, reveals the size of the project and the way the new factory will be laid out. All access to and from the site ‘will remain by way of the existing access road to Castle farm from the N73 (Kildorrery) roundabout’.

The construction work is running in tandem with the company’s massive growth into the global butter market. Despite a projected €100m Brexit hangover cut to the company’s revenue, Ornua believes there is a great opportunity in the global interest in Irish butter.

The company is in a strong position as it is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, exporting to 110 countries worldwide.

It has annual sales of over €2.3bn, employs 2,400 people and operates from 10 business units worldwide, including 12 production facilities in Germany, Spain, the UK, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and China.