Kerry Group’s Carrigaline investment boosts manufacturing capacity as dairy producers scale lactose free and reduced sugar products worldwide.
Irish food business Kerry has opened an expanded biotechnology manufacturing facility in Carrigaline, Co Cork, marking a significant increase in its capacity to produce lactase enzymes for the global dairy industry.
The investment strengthens Kerry’s integrated enzyme capabilities at a time of strong international demand for lactose free and reduced sugar dairy products.
Kerry said the expanded site is designed to give customers faster access to industrial-scale supply, greater manufacturing reliability and consistent performance at commercial volumes.
Feeding a global opportunity
“This investment translates decades of biotech research into scalable, real‑world capability,” said Shane McGibney, President & CEO, Biotechnology Solutions and Transformation at Kerry.
“By strengthening the link between enzyme engineering and industrial production, we’re able to move innovations more efficiently from the lab to the production line – helping customers access reliable supply and bring new products to market with greater speed and confidence.”
The Carrigaline expansion enhances Kerry’s end-to-end enzyme platform by more closely connecting advanced enzyme engineering and strain development with large-scale manufacturing.
The site works alongside Kerry’s Global Innovation Centre and its specialist biotechnology facility in Leipzig, Germany, creating a network intended to shorten the journey from research to commercial application.
Kerry said this integrated approach allows it to connect discovery, application development and manufacturing more tightly, supporting dairy producers as they respond to fast-changing consumer preferences around digestive comfort and sugar reduction.
“This facility demonstrates how industry, skills and innovation come together to support the future of Ireland’s food and biotechnology sectors”, said Peter Burke, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment of Ireland.
“As a global leader in food, Kerry Group continues to play an important role in advancing high value capability from its Irish base. Manufacturing sites like Carrigaline help move innovation towards scale and strengthen Ireland’s position in advanced manufacturing.”
Global demand for lactose free and reduced sugar dairy products continues to rise as consumers seek alternatives that retain taste and quality while supporting dietary preferences and digestive health. Kerry’s expanded lactase production capacity is intended to help processors meet this demand quickly and at scale.
“For our customers, this expansion is about execution as much as innovation,” said Ronan Moloney, Vice President of Enzymes at Kerry.
“With increased manufacturing capacity in Carrigaline, combined with deep application expertise, we can support customers through enzyme selection, process optimisation and scale‑up – reducing bottlenecks and strengthening supply continuity as they commercialise lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy products.”
The Carrigaline facility occupies a central role in Kerry’s global enzyme manufacturing network. According to the company, the site supplies more than 200 customers across over 80 countries. Lactase enzymes produced there are used to process more than two million tonnes of milk each year, reaching an estimated 28 million consumers worldwide.
Enterprise Ireland welcomed the development, describing Kerry as an example of an innovation-led Irish company with global reach.
Mark Christal, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland’s ambition is that Irish owned companies become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and we are committed to supporting these exporters to become global leaders in their field.
“Kerry is the exemplary of that, an innovation-led global company that is shaping the future of food and nutrition. I would like to congratulate all of the Kerry Group team on the development of this facility, and for your continued leadership in science-led and innovation-driven growth. We look forward to continuing to work with you on this journey.”
With the expanded facility now operational, Kerry says it is well positioned to support the next phase of growth in lactose‑free and reduced‑sugar dairy.
By combining decades of dairy science with advanced enzyme innovation and industrial‑scale manufacturing, Kerry says it enables producers to move from concept to commercialisation with greater speed, resilience and confidence – acting as a single, integrated partner across the full innovation lifecycle.
Shane McGibney, President & CEO, Biotechnology Solutions & Transformation with James Fitzpatrick, Plant Manager, Emer Gilvarry, Board, Albert McQuaid, Chief Science & Technology Officer and Ronan Moloney, Vice President, Enzymes. Photo: Robbie Reynolds
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