Glanbia has announced plans for major new cheese and whey production plant in the US, which will add 30 per cent to its processing capacity.
The Kilkenny-based food group has teamed up with three US dairy co-operatives to build the new Michigan-based facility.
When fully operational, it will be able to process up to 3.6 million litres of milk a day.
Glanbia will own 50 per cent of the joint venture with the balance shared by its partners – Dairy Farmers of America, Michigan Milk Producers Association and Foremost Farms.
The US co-operatives will supply the milk required by the plant while Glanbia will have responsibility for commercial, technical and operational aspects of the business.
If the project proceeds as planned, commissioning of the new facility is expected to take place in the second half of 2019 and be contributing to earnings by 2020, the company said.