Investment Of €28m Promises 100 Jobs In Naas

A €28m investment by Dawn Farm Foods in a research and development unit incorporating a state-of-the-art Meat Science Centre that promises to create 100 new jobs in Naas.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin announced the major investment by Dawn Farm Foods in Naas, Co. Kildare, with the support of Enterprise Ireland.

Overall 100 new jobs will be created, increasing employment in Dawn Farm Foods from 480 currently to 580 by 2011. The number of dedicated research and development personnel in the company will double from 15 to 30.

Minister Martin said: “Irish industry is acutely aware of the importance of research and development in developing new high-value added products and building competitiveness. The Enterprise Ireland Strategy: Transforming Irish Industry 2005 – 2007 has set ambitious targets to substantially increase the number of companies performing R&D. The development of a dedicated Meat Science R&D Centre together with a programme of R&D based projects will help Dawn Farm Foods to respond quickly and innovatively to consumer demands – demands which are particularly focussed on foods that are healthy and convenient without compromising on quality or cost.”

Based in Naas, Co. Kildare, Dawn Farm Foods, part of the Queally Group of Companies, was established in 1984 and is a leading manufacturer of fully cooked meat ingredients for sale into the EU food manufacturing and foodservice sectors. Dawn Farms sells cooked meats into the retail sector in Ireland and 80% of its current output is exported to over 30 countries worldwide serving customers in the food manufacturing, food service, pizza and sandwich businesses.

Commenting on the investment the Chief Executive of Dawn Farm Foods, Larry Murrin, said: “We aim to deepen our penetration into continental European markets where we are targeting incremental sales of in excess of €60 million over the next five years. We have established a leadership position in cooked meat ingredients in Europe based on product quality and value, safety, technical expertise and customer focus, and this investment marks the next phase in the growth of Dawn Farm Foods.

“Like all Irish companies competing in international markets, we need to constantly invest in our competitiveness and particularly invest in R&D and innovation. This investment programme will allow us combine modern, high-tech, production facilities with a new Meat Science Innovation Centre - a first for Ireland - giving us the recipe for continued success. The Centre will be committed to innovation in cooked meat protein and will be complemented by a programme of continuous investment in research into emerging consumer trends in convenience, health and wellness, and speciality meat products.”

Dawn Farms specialises in the production of a range of “individually quick frozen” and chilled cooked meat ingredients for supply to ready meal manufacturers, frozen and chilled pizza manufacturers, the sandwich industry and the food service sector.

In addition, they supply a range of delicatessen meat products for supply to the retail trade in Ireland.

A recent Enterprise Strategy report called for Irish companies to join the knowledge economy and move up the value chain. The catalyst to achieve this and to fast track Dawn Farms into its next growth phase is the new purpose built Meat Science and Innovation Centre to be built at our food campus in Naas.

This state of the art facility will be committed to technical excellence and innovation in meat protein and be complemented by a programme of continuous investment in research into emerging consumer trends in convenience, health and indulgence.

(SP)