Wyeth Nutritionals, the infant formula company owned by Nestlé, is seeking redundancies at its infant formula plant in Askeaton, Co Limerick. The company employs around 650 people at the Askeaton plant, but said it plans to reorganise operations at the facility.

“Wyeth Nutritionals Ireland is proposing to make some changes through offering a number of redundancies. It is in consultation with its employees and their representatives. The aim is to reshape the factory’s operations,” the company said.

The Askeaton facility is believed to use between 15,000t and 20,000t of dairy ingredients every year

Wyeth Nutritionals manufactures more than 40,000t of high grade infant formula powders and ready to feed liquids every year at its Askeaton plant, including its flagship Illuma brand of baby formula.

The Askeaton facility is believed to use between 15,000t and 20,000t of dairy ingredients every year and sources ingredients from a number of Irish dairy co-ops including Dairygold, Glanbia, Tipperary co-op and Arrabawn.

Over three-quarters of the infant formula produced at the plant is exported to high-value markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.