Kerry: Shaping the future of sustainable nutrition
Views of the Kerry Innovation & Technology Centre in Beloit, Wisconsin, the food company's North America headquarters, a model of sustainable building.
, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Kerry Group plc, explains why the passion, innovation, and expertise of Kerry Group's team are vital to the company's global success
Kerry Group has always been more than a business to our 20,000+ employees: The company’s success over the years is a testament to the passion, innovation, and expertise of our team in providing sustainable taste and nutrition solutions to over a billion consumers around the world.
We’ve grown to become global leader in the food, beverage and pharma industries, but no matter how far afield we expand, Ireland remains at the heart of who we are.
From the earliest days, Kerry’s strong presence in North America has been core to the company’s success. With almost 6,000 employees across 70 locations — including 48 manufacturing sites — Kerry is deeply embedded in this dynamic market, where we innovate and co-create with our customers to bring sustainable and enjoyable products to supermarket shelves and foodservice.
Consumer preferences are continuously evolving, and we partner with our customers to stay ahead of these changes by providing tailored solutions that satisfy both the functional and nutritional needs of North American consumers.
At the core of our North American operations is the Kerry Innovation & Technology Centre in Beloit, Wisconsin, our North America headquarters.
We made our largest-ever capital investment in Rome, Georgia, at $125 million, our state-of-the-art 264,000-square-foot facility. Named Sustainable Plant of the Year by Food and Beverage Manufacturing Magazine, this facility underscores our dedication to sustainable practices and cutting-edge technology.
In 2021, Kerry acquired Niacet in Niagara Falls, which helped build Kerry’s position as a leader in food protection and preservation. This acquisition represented our largest ever at over $1billion and provided us with even more opportunity to innovate and grow with our customers in the region.
But even as we continue to invest in North America, we never lose sight of where it all began. Ireland remains our home, both in spirit and in function.
Our Global Innovation Centre in Naas, County Kildare, is a symbol of our dedication to research and development. This facility serves as the nerve centre for our global innovation efforts, bringing together some of the brightest and most innovative minds in food science, technology, and nutrition.
In addition to being a magnet for international talent with 30 + nationalities on site, we draw on Ireland’s robust education system and emphasis on scientific research, ensuring that we have access to top-tier talent. By keeping our R&D anchored in Ireland, we benefit from a rich ecosystem of knowledge, resources, and collaboration that fuels our ability to create the next generation of food and beverage solutions.
Beyond product development, we take our role in advancing nutritional science seriously. We actively collaborate with universities, research institutions, and health organisations to deepen our understanding of how food impacts health. These partnerships keep us at the cutting edge of nutritional research, allowing us to translate scientific insights into real-world solutions.
This year, the Kerry Health and Nutrition Insitute (KHNI) will celebrate 10 years of advancing science for healthier food. KHNI brings the voice of science to some of the most challenging questions facing the food and beverage industry day-to-day through our network of over 1000 Kerry scientists, external collaborators, and our Scientific Advisory Council.
Sustainability is another key pillar of our work. We understand that the health of consumers is linked to the health of our planet. That’s why we are committed to developing solutions that are not only nutritious but also sustainable. From responsible sourcing to reducing our and our customers’ environmental impact, we are constantly seeking ways to create a positive impact on the world around us.
Ireland is where our journey began, and it continues to shape the way we approach innovation, research, and sustainability. Our presence in North America allows us to bring the best of what we do to one of the most exciting food and beverage markets in the world.
Through our commitment to science, collaboration, and sustainability, we are helping shape the future of sustainable nutrition, one innovation at a time.
