Dale Farm, the Northern Irish dairy co-op, has announced plans to invest £70 million in a new Tyrone Cheddar-processing factory, RTÉ reported today.
The co-op is developing a facility in Dunmanbridge, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.
The investment is one of the largest in the Northern Irish agri-food industry.
Work has already begun on the plant, which is due to be up and running by February 2025.
The project will increase the site’s cheese capacity by 20,000 tonnes per year, while expanding its whey protein capacity.
The new plant will include advanced energy-efficient technologies and new production processes.
These, combined, are expected to reduce the site’s carbon footprint by approximately 4,500 tonnes annually, when compared to milk powder production.
‘Important Milestone’
Speaking about the new development, Nick Whelan, the group chief executive of Dale Farm, said, “Dale Farm has built a strong reputation as a leader in Cheddar production, and thanks to our reputation for quality, sustainability and consistency, we are seeing strong customer growth in the category.
“We are already exporting to 40 countries, and with this investment, we want to build on that momentum and future-proof our operation and Dunmanbridge for decades to come.
“We have been granted a patent for Cheddar produced at the site and are onboarding new technologies and digital transformation.”
Whelan concluded by saying, “We’re also investing in sustainability, and as a result of this expansion, our carbon footprint will see a significant reduction, marking another important milestone on our journey towards net zero.”
