€150m GIL dairy processing facility in Co Kilkenny starts construction

Ground has been officially broken on the construction of the €150m Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GIL) dairy processing facility in Belview, Co Kilkenny – the first Greenfield primary dairy processing facility to be constructed in Ireland in over 40 years.

GIL processes 1.6 billion litres of milk or 30pc of Ireland’s milk pool into a range of dairy ingredients for export to more than 50 countries.  All produce from the new facility will be destined for export markets.

The 23,500 sq m facility will have the capacity to produce more than 100,000 tonnes of nutritional dairy powders per year, which will make it one of the largest plants of its kind in Europe.

“Belview is a significant, strategic development for our business and an important step in realising our growth ambitions.  All produce from the new facility is destined for an increasing number of regions including the Middle East, Africa, Central America and Asia markets, where we will supply a range of nutritional dairy based powders,” said GIL CEO Jim Bergin.

“The new facility builds on the latest in dairy technology and is targeted for completion in Spring 2015.”

Speaking at the ceremony Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD said the new facility, part funded through Enterprise Ireland, would generate over 1,600 direct and indirect jobs and an estimated €400m per annum in value for the economy. Source: Business  and Leadership.