Breffni Mushrooms in Co Cavan employs 280 people and co-owner Eugene Kiernan estimates 15 or 16 of those came on board in 2014 in newly created positions.

Positions filled include a new manager in packing, a farm manager and a position in quality control to research new product development. Eight new people were taken on in the pack house, while the balance of employees hired were pickers.

Breffni Mushrooms is currently looking to recruit a new manager for a farm they have in Scotland, while there will be significant recruitment in the company in 2015.

The company recently set up a school to train pickers on a continuous basis, and four mushroom pickers will be trained in this school every month in 2015, meaning the company will have a continuous supply of mushroom pickers for its farms – in fact, 48 altogether in 2015.

The company also intends to expand new product development and the value-added sides of the mushroom business next year.

In 2014, Germinal Ireland, which produces grass, clover and cereal seeds, recruited four people – two were for replacement hires and two were newly created positions. The company also plans to fill two positions in the coming 12 months.

Fyffes says it didn’t fill positions this year, but plans to recruit three in tropical farming next year.