Food technology and ingredients company Kerry Group has opened its expanded biotechnology manufacturing facility in Carrigaline in Co Cork, significantly increasing its capacity to produce lactase enzymes at industrial scale.
Kerry said the expansion strengthens its ability to support dairy producers worldwide as demand accelerates for lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy products, enabling faster scale‑up, secure supply and consistent performance at commercial volumes.
The Carrigaline investment enhances Kerry’s end‑to‑end enzyme platform by more closely linking advanced enzyme engineering and strain development with large‑scale manufacturing.
Working with Kerry’s Global Innovation Centre as the central hub, Kerry connects innovation and application development with its specialised biotechnology capabilities at the Kerry Biotechnology Centre in Leipzig, Germany, and expanded production capacity in Carrigaline.
“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,” he stated.
The Carrigaline site plays a central role in Kerry’s global manufacturing network, supporting over 200 customers across over 80 countries. Lactase enzymes produced at the site are used to process more than two million tonnes of milk annually, reaching an estimated 28 million consumers worldwide.
Kerry noted that demand for lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy continues to grow across global markets, as consumers seek products that support digestive comfort and reduced sugar intake without compromising taste or quality.
“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,” he added.
“”his facility demonstrates how industry, skills and innovation come together to support the future of Ireland’s food and biotechnology sectors”, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said.
“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,” he added.