More than 540 jobs at risk as Limerick's Wyeth infant formula plant to shut 

The factory manufactures infant formula products exclusively for export to markets in greater China and Asia. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Food giant Nestlé has announced plans to close its West Limerick infant formula manufacturing plant as well as research and development (R&D) operations in Ireland with the loss of 542 jobs.

In a statement, the company announced that it would be ceasing operations at Wyeth Nutrition infant formula factory in Askeaton, Limerick by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The co-located R&D centre will close by early 2025.

The company said it will begin consulting with all employees and their unions over their redundancy packages.

“Regrettably, today’s announcement means approximately 542 colleagues will be placed at risk of redundancy,’ the company said.

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Niall Collins pledged that the government “will leave no stone unturned” in supporting the workers, who he said were now facing into a “grim” winter.

“I’m shocked to hear of it, it’s been a very successful multinational employer and has changed ownership over the years and moved with the times - it’s a huge blow to West Limerick, Limerick, and the wider region, and I would be very concerned for the 542 workers,” Deputy Collins said.

“As a government, we will do everything we can, we will leave no stone unturned in terms of supporting the workers over the next number of months.” 

“I’m shocked and hugely concerned. I’m thinking firstly that there is a lot of workers with young families, with mortgages, so it’s grim news to get at this time of year, but we will do our best to support them,” added the Limerick TD.

The move will also come as a blow to Limerick Council, which takes in almost half a million euro annually in rates from the factory. 

Nestlé purchased Wyeth Nutritionals in 2012 as part of its acquisition of Pfizer Nutrition.

The factory manufactures infant formula products exclusively for export to markets in greater China and Asia. The factory currently employs 491 people with 51 people employed at the R&D facility.

The company said that “external trends” have impacted demand for infant nutrition products across China and surrounding territories.

“The number of new-born babies in China has declined sharply from some 18 million per year in 2016 to fewer than 9 million projected in 2023. The market, which had previously been reliant on imported infant formula products, is also seeing rapid growth in locally-produced products,” the company said.

“To adapt to those changes we are proposing to transfer the production from Askeaton to two existing factories – Suzhou, Mainland China and Konolfingen, Switzerland.” Konolfingen is already home to Nestlé Nutrition’s global R&D centre for infant and maternal products.

“It is proposed that R&D work at Askeaton would be absorbed into Konolfingen, where 365 colleagues work on research and product development across several disciplines, and a satellite R&D centre in Shanghai would be strengthened,” the company said.

It added that it has been seeking a buyer for the facility but has been unsuccessful.

“Therefore, we will commence a meaningful consultation process with our employees on a proposed closure. In parallel, during this consultation we remain open to approaches from a credible buyer," the company said.