French food giant Danone, which manufactures dairy and plant-based products, is planning a big expansion to its operations in Cork.
The multinational currently employs around 230 people at its Macroom site, and aims to double that number to 460 by 2030 if the greenlight for expansion is given. The company has lodged plans with Cork County Council to construct a new two-storey facility next to its existing plant.
The Cork factory currently produces infant formula, but the new building – an “Advanced Medical Nutrition Production Facility” – would see production expand “into adult medical nutrition, to cater for both oral and tube feed product for different needs of the aging population.” 33% of the new product would remain in Ireland and UK, with the rest expected to be exported.
The new construction is set to be “a phased ramp up,” with aims to commence in late 2028 and complete by 2030. The submission for a new “flagship” plant in Cork comes as Danone announces the closure of a factory across the Atlantic in New Jersey, where sales of plant-based products have struggled.
In a planning letter to Cork County Council, PMCG Consulting Engineers outlined the details of the proposed facility, including a two-storey Research and Development building and the extension of a car park to permit 105 more vehicles. A planning decision is expected by July.
Macroom is home to a number of major production employers, including Stryker and Cygnum Timber Frame, which last month announced its own €8m expansion – bringing another 150 jobs to the area.
Elsewhere in Cork, a new weekly shipping service between Cork and New York is set to make the Rebel County an even more attractive prospect for multinational manufacturers. Cargo can now reach New York in approximately nine days and Savannah in around 11 days, delivering faster and more efficient access to the vital US market.