Kerry expands US reach with £105m factory uprade

The upgrade to the 29,357m2 factory will double capacity for the manufacturer in order to meet growing consumer demand in the poultry, seafood and alternative protein markets in North America.

Upgrades to the site focused on sustainability, including 100% renewable electricity, zero waste to landfill, local sourcing where possible and investment into energy efficient equipment.

Accelerated change ​

Oliver Kelly, president and chief executive of Kerry in North America, said: “The increased and changing demand from consumers for tasty, nutritious and sustainable food and beverages is driving accelerated change and reshaping the entire food industry. ​

“Investing in world-class facilities, such as this one in Georgia, allows us to ensure that we can continually work and co-create with our customers to respond to this changing demand – it is just one example of our dedication to our goal of reaching over two billion people with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030.”​

Continued expansion ​

The opening of the factory comes one month after Kerry acquired biotechnology firms c-LEcta and Emmex in a bid to expand its technology portfolio and manufacturing capabilities across fermentation and developing enzymes for use in the production of food and drink.

Albert McQuaid, chief science and technology officer for Kerry, said the agreement to acquire c-LEcta would accelerate Kerry’s innovations in enzyme engineering, fermentation and bio-process development. 

Meanwhile, Four Anjels, the biscuit and cake manufacturer, is set to relocate to a new site at Furlong Park, Cheltenham in March 2022,​​ creating an anticipated 80 new jobs.

The supplier to M&S Café, Pret A Manger and Dunlem, is currently operating out of a 418m²​​ bakery in Moreton-in-Marsh. The move to the larger 2,307m²​​ premises followed a period of growth for the firm after it secured a new contract with M&S Café for the supply of baked goods in 2020/1.