Dublin-based drinks company M&J Gleeson has announced a €2.5 million expansion at its manufacturing operation in Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary, which will involve the creation of 50 jobs over the next four months.

Mr Patrick Cooney, the managing director of the wholesale and wine-importing company, which produces mineral water, cider, beer and cream liqueur, said much of the privately-raised investment would go towards the installation of a robotic loading system for office coolers, capable of handling 20,000 litres an hour.

The firm is now the largest independent drinks company in the State with a turnover of €150 million, according to Mr Cooney. It employs 250 people at the Borrisoleigh plant where Tipperary Water is produced. He said M&J Gleeson was the only Irish company marketing water as natural mineral water, which means it has to comply with the National Standards Authority of Ireland and EU regulations.

He added that many of the new jobs would be for filling new contracts with Aldi and Lidl for own-brand ice lollies.