The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has officially opened a new €40m technologically advanced milk powder plant at Lakeland Dairies, Bailieborough, Co Cavan.

The Bailieborough facility is among the most advanced milk powder plants in the world and one of the largest such plants in Europe

Lakeland Dairies completed and commissioned a new €36m milk powder plant on its dairy processing site at Bailieboro, with this being the third major milk powder plant on the same site in Co Cavan.

The investment

The investment created 85 new jobs across the Lakeland Dairies Group between now and 2019, with Lakeland Dairies now employs over 800 people. The construction work itself created over 180 jobs.

In a statement, Lakeland Dairies’ chairman, Alo Duffy outlined the investment will aid the processor to compete successfully in the industry.

“With this new facility Lakeland Dairies will compete at the forefront of the global dairy food ingredients industry,” he said.

“This development will underpin our further progress in a rapidly changing world of international trade where we have a heritage of over 120 years in dairy farming and an unstinting commitment to making the most excellent dairy products for all of our customers,” Duffy said.

CEO of Lakeland Dairies

Michael Hanley, CEO of Lakeland Dairies’ Group, was also optimistic about the long-term plan of the company.

“Our strategy is to create long-term competitiveness and sustainability for our milk producers and to meet the long-term needs of our valued customers in the global food industry where we see constant demand for our products,” Hanley explained.

Also present at the opening today was the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys.

The event forms part of a series of open days where hundreds of Lakeland Dairies milk supplying farmers and their families, are also visiting the new facility.

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