3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
New cheese plant in Boherbue marks €15m investment in rural Cork
The new plant is owned by Ingredient Solutions Ltd., one of Ireland's leading cheese solution providers, and sits on a 7-acre site in Boherbue, close to the company's existing plant. Founded in 2000, the company now exports to over 40 countries.
Around four times larger than the current site and with five production lines, the new plant will enable the company to scale from 12,000 to 27,000 tonnes of produce annually, with future expansion potential to 35,000 tonnes, according to Managing Director Gary Davies.
With the company currently employing around 100 people, Davies predicted that number will rise by around 50 workers over the next eight to ten years. 'We've built this facility not just to meet today's needs, but to secure our ability to innovate and grow in the years ahead,' he said.
Speaking at the opening, Davies said: 'It's a proud day for our staff, our community, and for Ian Galletly, our founder, whose vision brought Ingredient Solutions to life 25 years ago. This facility is the result of his dream—backed by Rupp, AIB, and Enterprise Ireland—and designed to grow with us into the future.'
The ribbon-cutting event was attended by government representatives, industry leaders, and local stakeholders, including John Broekmans, CEO of Rupp (Ingredient Solutions' Austrian-based parent company); Cllr Joe Carroll, Lord Mayor of Cork; Cork North-West TD Michael Moynihan, and Cllr Bernard Moynihan, while Fr. Jim Kennelly blessed the facility.
The Rupp CEO highlighted the company's long-term commitment to the locality: 'This factory is more than bricks and stainless steel. It's a promise—to our employees, our customers, and to Boherbue. We are here for the long term. Together, we are building not just cheese, but a future.'
Broekmans acknowledged the deep ties between Rupp and Ingredient Solutions since the 2022 acquisition, calling the new facility 'a continuation of the legacy we've built together. This moment represents not just a new chapter for our company, but it's also a renewed commitment to the community that has stood by us for twenty-five years."
Cllr Moynihan spoke about the long journey to the opening of the new plant, recalling early planning meetings, community backing, and the essential role of Boherbue Co-Op: 'This factory will export to over 70 countries and generate €100 million in export trade. But more importantly, it's an investment in people—in jobs, in families, and in the future of rural Ireland. Boherbue has always punched above its weight, and today, we take our place on the world stage.'
The Kanturk-Mallow Councillor said the recent upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant in Boherbue paved the way to securing the new cheese plant. "The crucial, crucial thing to make this plant happen today was because we had the €9 million-wastewater treatment plant. It's a fantastic investment in Boherbue for housing, for shops, for development, for everything."
The upgrade, which was carried out by Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Cork County Council, modernised and improved the performance and capacity of the plant and has improved the quality of treated wastewater discharged into the Brogeen River, a protected conservation area and home to the freshwater pearl mussel.
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Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll, also underlined the importance of the local infrastructure in his words at the opening. "This is a day of celebration not only for Ingredient Solutions but for the entire local community. Cork County Council has been proud to support this development, particularly through our investment in the nine-million-euro upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant here in Boherbue. This critical infrastructure paved the way for growth like we're seeing today, enabling businesses to expand, create jobs and contribute to the local community."
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North-West and Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, said: 'This is not just a local success story—it's a strategic investment in the future of food production in Ireland and beyond. As the global population grows, Ireland must lead in producing sustainable, high-quality food. This facility proves rural communities like Boherbue are more than ready to meet that challenge.'
Production at the new plant is scheduled to begin in July and will consolidate Ingredient Solutions' growing reputation as a global leader in cheese manufacturing. The company has also launched a refreshed version of Ingredient Solutions' Yellow Road brand—named after the English translation of 'Boherbue'—targeting new markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
