Helping dairy producers worldwide from Carrigaline

A manufacturing facility in Carrigaline is set to significantly increase its capacity in producing lactase enzymes at an industrial scale.

Kerry announced on Monday that it had opened the facility in a bid 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.

Shane McGibney, President and CEO, Biotechnology Solutions and Transformation at Kerry, said: “This investment translates decades of biotech research into scalable, real‑world capability. 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 investment enhances Kerry’s end‑to‑end enzyme platform by more closely linking advanced enzyme engineering and strain development with large‑scale manufacturing.

“This facility demonstrates how industry, skills and innovation come together to support the future of Ireland’s food and biotechnology sectors”, said Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment of Ireland. He added: “Manufacturing sites like Carrigaline help move innovation towards scale and strengthen Ireland’s position in advanced manufacturing.”

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.”