Valeo Foods invests over €1 million in Odlums
Production facilities enhanced to facilitate growth and export of Irish brand
Print21 July 2015
Valeo Foods has invested over €1 million in upgrading the Odlums milling facility in Portarlington, Co. Laois, and in expanding and modernising the Odlums brand.
In a press statement, the company said the investment represents a major upgrade to the manufacturing operations of Ireland’s last remaining commercial mill. This will provide greater flexibility to produce a broader range of products and should help Odlums increase its share of the popular home baking category, estimated to be worth approximately €124 million per year in Ireland.
Currently, Odlums currently produces over 120 products at its 170 year old Portarlington milling facility which employs 35 people locally. The rise in production at Portarlington will facilitate anticipated growth in demand as Valeo Foods begins exporting the Odlums brand internationally; leveraging the supply chain capabilities of the company’s newly integrated European brands, Balconi in Italy and Rowse Honey in the UK.
The move marks the latest phase in a significant investment programme across Valeo Foods’ Irish production facilities, involving a total investment in excess of €10 million to date.
As part of the Odlums investment, Valeo Foods has also completely renovated and modernised the Odlums brand, launching over 20 new products including the fast growing Organic, Spelt, Gluten Free, and Bake Your Own ranges, and introducing new packaging solutions such as the resealable tub range, all in response to changing consumer habits.
In addition to a new production line and efficiency upgrades, a key part of the investment has seen the creation of an in-house R&D unit to generate new product development.
Commenting on the investment, chief commercial officer, Oliver Sutherland, Valeo Foods, said, “We are now in the next phase of growth for the iconic Odlums brand and are excited about the export opportunity that exists. Through our continued focus on innovation and new product development, we look forward to growing the brand in Ireland and abroad.”
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