Edgeworthstown in Longford is to be the site of the largest and most advanced pet food manufacturing facility in Europe. Some 70 new jobs are to be created through a €15m investment in the C&D Centre of Excellence.
The new C&D facility is an extension to the plant that was built in 2007 following a major fire.
It will produce pet food pouches for many of Europe’s top own-brand labels and will be the biggest of its kind in Europe.
C&D has invested over €55m in Edgeworthstown since 2007 and the 70 new jobs will be created within the next three years.
“This announcement following so soon off the back of our €40 million investment in 2007 increases our capacity to supply our wider European customer base following our acquisition of Arovit A/S in 2012,” explained Philip Reynolds, CEO of C&D Foods.
“It is further evidence of the success and strength of our Edgeworthstown facility and its significance as part of our European manufacturing footprint,” Reynolds added.
The investment is supported by the Department of Jobs through Enterprise Ireland.
Ireland needs a thriving indigenous manufacturing sector
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said that it is important that a powerful engine of Irish businesses thrives alongside the strong multinational sector.
“We have put in place a range of measures over recent years to support Irish companies, and businesses in sectors like technology and manufacturing are now powering ahead and creating jobs right across the country.
“Today’s announcement by C&D Foods is a great example – here is an established family-owned manufacturing company, investing in innovation, growing its exports, and creating jobs in a regional location,” Bruton said.
Enterprise Ireland has been working with C&D as far back as 1967 and C&D Foods is the second largest private label pet-food company in Europe with sales of €300m a year.
It employs over 1,000 people in manufacturing sites spread over six countries, including Ireland, the UK, The Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Denmark.
“This expansion will create in Edgeworthstown, the largest, most modern and efficient Pouch Petfood production facility in Europe,” explained Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon.
“Flexible Pouch Technology is now the dominant format in single-serve petfood packaging and offers convenience and state of the art pet nutrition to buyers of petfood all over Europe.”
Dog food image via Shutterstock
