Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin has announced a major €10 million expansion investment by Kepak Cork at their plant in Watergrasshill, Co. Cork.

The investment, which will focus on the production and marketing of a range of heat and serve meals, is expected to generate exports to the value of €55 million and lead to the creation of 155 new jobs over a three year period.

Making the announcement in Cork, Minister Martin said: “Irish food companies are gaining significant market share in the UK in prepared consumer food products, the fastest expanding element of the food sector. Kepak have been developing this market niche since 1997 and this initiative adds significant value to the primary output of beef and lamb within the Kepak Group.

“This high quality ‘Heat and Serve’ project is an ambitious addition to their product range and the culmination of three years of product research which was supported by Enterprise Ireland. This important development demonstrates the potential impact of research and development in generating knock-on exports and employment.”

Kepak, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Kepak Group, was founded in 1981 as a conventional red meat processor, supplying supermarkets and food service customers from a single plant at Clonee, Co Meath.

Over the last two decades it has grown into one of Ireland’s leading added value meat processors with its Irish plants employing 1,200 people.

(MB/SP)