One of Northern Ireland’s longest running dairy processors has unveiled a new Dairy Technology Centre in following a £30m investment supported by Danske Bank.
Over 20 new jobs have been created at the LacPatrick site in Artigarvan, County Tyrone.
LacPatrick was formed in 2015 after a merger between Town of Monaghan Co-Operative and Ballyrashane Co-Operative.
The Artigarvan site currently employs 70 staff with LacPatrick Dairies employing over 300 staff across all of its sites.
The new 30,000 sq. ft centre will double the site’s capacity, making the firm one of the biggest producers of dairy products in the UK.
It represents one of the single biggest investments in the Northern Ireland dairy industry in recent years.
'Security of capacity'
Gabriel D’Arcy, Chief Executive of LacPatrick, said the new dairy technology centre at Artigarvan will provide "security of capacity" for local dairy farmers producing milk to the "highest standards".
“The plant provides long term security to our supplier base and positions the business at the forefront of global dairy technologies,” Mr D'Arcy explained.
“We are now able to produce two new lines of milk powder for international markets with the dairy technology centre able to process milk all year round.
“The 20 new roles are in areas such as Operations, Quality, Environmental and Health & Safety. As new product development continues to be a priority, we see excellent opportunities for ambitious food science graduates in the coming years.”
'Greatly mitigated'
Mr D’Arcy said the core logistical risk of Brexit has been "greatly mitigated" by the Artigarvan facility.
As an exporter out of the UK, LacPatrick will be closely monitoring the trading agreements being negotiated by the UK.
He added: “We will be focused on driving product development, building relationships with processors seeking access to our technology and expanding our customer base in Asia and the Middle East.
“We have made a significant capital investment with the clear purpose of delivering a sustainable return to our suppliers over the coming months and years ahead.”
