The Irish Dairy Board (IDB) has inaugurated a new $12m cheese manufacturing plant at its Thiel Cheese & Ingredients (Thiel) operations in Wisconsin.
The new facility, which marks the completion of an $80m expansion project in its US Food Ingredients unit, features advanced dairy processing equipment such as an Innovation Centre that will offer functional cheese solutions to its US Food Ingredient and Food Service customers.
According to IDB, the new plant will increase its US Food Ingredient production capacity by 40%.
Minister Simon Coveney said the new facility will further strengthen the positioning of Ireland and Irish agri-business expertise in the US, as well as supporting the economic wellbeing of Irish dairy farmers.
"We are entering an exciting time for the Irish dairy sector as milk quotas are abolished from next April and today's opening represents the kind of investment which will help the sector realise its true potential," the minister said.
IDB CEO Kevin Lane said, "Today marks the completion of a very significant investment programme by IDB into the US food ingredients market and is in-line with our growth strategy to invest in high-growth dairy businesses that deliver strong returns to our members.
"The focus of this investment is on innovation as much as production, with our new facility enhancing our ability to create innovative food solutions that meet the evolving needs of our US customer base and their brands," Lane noted.