Kerry Group will create 900 new jobs, thanks to its latest venture into food research. The company will build a food technology research centre in County Kildare. This is considered to be one of the biggest announcements of jobs by a single company and the largest investment in food innovation.
Initially, the company will hire 800 people, reports Reuters. This figure will then be increased to 900 in 2016.
"We must not only continue to deepen and develop the impact of the very important multinational sector, but also crucially support Irish companies who are seeking to expand their presence in export markets and become world-leaders in their field," said Irish Jobs Minister, Richard Bruton, according to BBC News. He added that this move puts Irish food innovation at the forefront.
Ireland has been facing an economic crisis for the past four years. Employment rates are high, at 15 percent, and jobs are low in number. But its food industry is one of the areas where there is still a chance for people to gain employment.
"It is absolutely essential to our economy, it accounts for 10 percent of Ireland's exports and 8 percent of GDP," Prime Minister Enda Kenny said, regarding the importance of the research and development sector of the food industry, reports Reuters.
Moreover, according to a report commissioned by Food and Drinks Industry Ireland (FDII), thousands of jobs will be created by the food industry. The report, 'Sharing the Harvest: Food and Drinks Jobs Dividend,' says that one in eight jobs in the country is related to some part of the food industry. And 30,000 more will be created very soon.
Ireland spends $9.84 billion on the food industry every year. Paul Kelly, Director of FDII, maintains that proper government policies and their implementation will see an increase in exports as well. He believes that they can bring in an export income of $14.77 billion in the next eight years.
The investment by the Kerry Group will also act as an encouragement to other Irish companies to invest in Irish agri-businesses and create more jobs.
Kerry Group, which started in the 1970s, is involved in exporting food ingredients for different food products, including Cheesestrings and Wall's sausages. It exports food ingredients to countries in Asia and parts of the U.S.