Kerry opens Irish lactase enzyme plant
From L-R: Shane McGibney, President & CEO, Biotechnology Solutions and Transformation, Kerry; James Fitzpatrick, Plant Manager, Kerry; Emer Gilvarry, Independent Non- Executive Director, Kerry; Albert McQuaid, Chief Science and Technology Officer, Kerry; Ronan Moloney, Vice President- Enzymes, Kerry. Credit: Kerry
Kerry opened its expanded biotechnology manufacturing facility in Carrigaline, County Cork, significantly increasing its capacity to produce lactase enzymes at industrial scale, it says. Lactase enzymes produced at the site are used to process more than two million tonnes of milk annually, reaching an estimated 28 million consumers worldwide.
The expansion strengthens Kerry’s ability to support dairy producers as demand accelerates for lactose free and sugar reduced dairy products, enabling faster scaleup, secure supply and consistent performance at commercial volumes.
“This investment translates decades of biotech research into scalable, real world capability,” said Shane McGibney, president & CEO, biotechnology solutions and transformation at Kerry. “By strengthening the link between enzyme engineering and industrial production, we’re able to move innovations more efficiently from the lab to the production line, helping customers access reliable supply and bring new products to market with greater speed and confidence.”
The Carrigaline investment enhances Kerry’s end-to-end enzyme platform by more closely linking advanced enzyme engineering and strain development with large-scale manufacturing. Working with Kerry’s Global Innovation Centre as the central hub, Kerry connects innovation and application development with its specialised biotechnology capabilities at the Kerry Biotechnology Centre in Leipzig, Germany, and expanded production capacity in Carrigaline, Ireland.
“This facility demonstrates how industry, skills and innovation come together to support the future of Ireland’s food and biotechnology sectors,” says Peter Burke, Ireland’s minister for enterprise, tourism and employment. “As a global leader in food, Kerry Group continues to play an important role in advancing high value capability from its Irish base. Manufacturing sites like Carrigaline help move innovation towards scale and strengthen Ireland’s position in advanced manufacturing.”
Demand for lactose free and sugar reduced dairy continues to grow across global markets. The Carrigaline site now supports more than 200 customers across over 80 countries.
