€15m pig plant to create 120 jobs

A HUGE investment programme will create up to 120 new jobs at a pigmeat processing plant in Edenderry, Co Offaly and secures 250 others that were put at risk following a fire at the plant last year.

Rosderra Meats, established by the management team that acquired the Glanbia Meats Division in February, announced the plan yesterday with an investment understood to be in the region of €12 million to €15 million.

The investment programme will involve the complete rebuilding of the section of the processing plant destroyed by fire last August which covered processing, packing and dispatch operations.

Rosderra said the new sections will be completed by November, with the immediate creation of 50 to 60 new jobs.

This number will grow to approximately 120 when the plant is running at full capacity.

Rosderra Meats chief executive Jim Hanley said the company were delighted to announce the rebuilding of the processing plant.

“This investment not only creates 120 new jobs, once the plant is fully operational, it secures the 250 jobs that were put at risk following the fire last August,” he said.

“When completed, this will be one of the most modern pigmeat processing plants in Europe.”

Mr Hanley said it would also “ assure Rosderra pig suppliers of our commitment to the future”.

In its first year of operations, Rosderra Meats plans to slaughter 1.3 million pigs, representing 50% of the country’s total kill.

The company is forecasting a turnover of more than €200 million in its first year, with 45% of its bacon and pork products produced for export.

The group employs 840 staff in Ireland and operates four other plants in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Clara, Co Offaly, Jamestown, Co Leitrim, and Stradone, Co Cavan.

It also operates seven pig farms.