Enterprise Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 2006
Annual Report and Accounts 2006
By anchoring plans in R&D, innovation and market knowledge, Ireland's largest privately owned agri-food business is fast-tracking an ambitious expansion into European markets.
Kildare-based Dawn Farm Foods is seeking to increase its penetration of continental European markets, and aims to generate €60 million in new export sales over the next five years.
The agri-food company has made a significant commitment to R&D, innovation and international competitiveness by firmly aligning its growth plans with the development of a new Meat Science Innovation Centre – the first of its kind in Ireland.
The establishment of the state-of-the-art research facility was announced in May 2006. Its construction, together with a programme of R&D based projects, formed half of a major Enterprise Ireland-supported research and capital investment of €28 million, which includes new high-tech production facilities.
The Meat Science Innovation Centre, to be operational at the company’s Naas headquarters by November 2007, will double Dawn Farm Foods’ research skills and capacity, with the number of dedicated R&D personnel increasing from 15 to 30. Overall, 100 new jobs will be created by the investment, increasing employment at the company to 580 by 2011.
A recognised leader in the cooked meat ingredients market in Europe, 80 per cent of Dawn Farm Foods’ output is exported to more than 30 countries worldwide.
As part of the Queally Group, it serves the food manufacturing and food services sectors and has a customer list of blue chip brands such as Nestle, Subway and Pizza Hut, representing the who’s who of the European food industry.
According to Larry Murrin, Dawn Farm Foods’ Chief Executive, the new R&D facility is essential to future business. He says the centre will explore the ways cooked meat protein will be used by the consumers of tomorrow by examining emerging trends in the areas of convenience and functional foods, speciality meat products, and health and wellness.
Larry Murrin adds:
“However, it’s not only about designing the flavours of the future. We will also focus on innovation in the systems, processes and applications of the research itself. Our R&D capability has been a key business enabler since 1984. We want to continue building on that.”
“Having supported us every step of the way, Enterprise Ireland will remain a very close working partner.”
www.dawnfarms.ie (link opens in a new browser window)
