One hundred new jobs will be created in a €28 million investment at Dawn Farms in Kildare, designed to increase its presence in the EU market.
The Naas company is developing a meat science innovation centre along with other research and development (R&D) and capital investment.
The initiative will double dedicated R&D personnel at the plant to 30 and increase overall employment in Dawn Farm Foods from 480 people to 580 by 2011.
Dawn Farm Foods, part of the Queally Group, was established in 1984 and is a leading manufacturer of fully-cooked meat ingredients for sale into the EU food manufacturing and food service sectors.
Dawn Farms sells cooked meats into the retail sector in Ireland and 80 per cent of its current output is exported to more than 30 countries worldwide serving customers in the food manufacturing, food service, pizza and sandwich businesses.
Its long-term success is dependent on winning business in the more competitive and high-risk markets in Europe. This will require substantial investment in people, in manufacturing and in R&D.
Announcing the investment yesterday, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said: "The development of a dedicated meat science R&D centre, together with a programme of R&D-based projects, will help Dawn Farm Foods respond quickly and innovatively to consumer demands."
Larry Murrin, chief executive of Dawn Farm Foods, said the company aimed to deepen its penetration into continental European markets, where it was targeting incremental sales of in excess of €60 million over the next five years.
"This investment programme will allow us combine modern, high-tech, production facilities with a new meat science innovation centre - a first for Ireland - giving us the recipe for continued success," he said.
Enterprise Ireland chief executive Frank Ryan praised the company and said its growth plans were ambitious. "It is a fine example of a company anchoring growth in R&D, innovation and market knowledge," he said.
Dawn anticipates a growth in outsourcing of key components by larger players in the €600 billion EU food manufacturing business, servicing the food service and retail sectors, which will drive increased demand for meat ingredients.
