Kerry Group’s state-of-the-art new Global Technology & Innovation Centre was officially opened today by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, along with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton and Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

After an investment of €100m, Kerry say the new innovation centre will serve the group’s global and regional customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Already, the new centre employs 800 people with roles in research, product commercialisation, business development and business support, with a further 100 positions to be created by the end of 2016.

Situated on a 28-acre site in the Millennium Business Park, Naas, Co Kildare, the location for the R&D headquarters was chosen for its adjacency to the M7 and M50 motorway networks and the proximity of an international airport at Dublin.

Speaking at the official opening, Kerry chief executive Stan McCarthy said the new centre will serve as a focal point for customer engagement for Kerry and support sustainable growth for the food giant into the future.

“Our new Global Technology & Innovation Centre will provide key customers with access to the group’s complete breadth and depth of technologies, scientific research, innovation and applications expertise across food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets,” said McCarthy.

“In addition, it will serve as the group’s global centre of excellence for nutrition and will optimise product differentiation in the marketplace, while providing unrivalled speed to market,” he added.