‘High operating costs and underlying inflation a challenge for Irish firms’

FOOD group Glanbia hit out at the high cost of doing business in Ireland when it announced results for 2006 yesterday.

The loss of a key customer to Poland was the last straw for the food group’s pork cannery operation in Rooskey which it was forced to close at a cost of €3.3m, with the loss of over 80 jobs.

Canned meat sales have been declining sharply and plant was under pressure but when a key customer turned to Poland for supplies “we decided enough is enough” said chief executive John Moloney.