Glanbia, an Irish nutritional solutions and cheese firm, has outlined plans to develop a new Ultra-Heat-Treated (UHT) plant in Monaghan.
The proposed plant will manufacture long-life liquid milk and cream, including export versions of Glanbia's market dairy leading brand Avonmore Milk, when it becomes operational in early 2014.
This facility, which is expected to create 40 new jobs, will cater to the markets in China, Europe and the Middle East.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney said that developing an Irish branded, UHT product, for the Chinese market is a really important, strategic move for both the company and the Irish Dairy industry.
Glanbia Consumer Products chief executive officer Colin Gordon said, "This new state of the art UHT facility is a key part of our strategy to develop an international business for Irish liquid milk and cream products. There is a strong business case for this investment and we have had an excellent response from potential customers, globally.
"We greatly appreciate the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and Enterprise Ireland for this project. We look forward to commencing operations in 2014, with first exports planned in the second half of the year."
Besides, Glanbia's performance nutrition division is planning to establish its Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) head office in Dublin, with 50 new employees.
