A Laois factory has announced it will be reducing its operational hours with jobs of workers on the line.

Employees of the Leprino cheese factory in Portlaoise are in talks with management and SIPTU Union representatives, following the announcement of reduced shifts.

A representative from Leprino EU confirmed with the Leinster Express / Laois Live that they will be reducing staff hours.

"We have opened a consultation on some proposed changes to shift patterns at our Portlaoise factory," a representative said.

"In simple terms, we are proposing to spread production at the site more evenly throughout each calendar year to improve the efficiency, in line with evolving market demands and advancements in our manufacturing processes.

"The recommendations would mean a move away from the current 4 shift working pattern to a 3-shift scenario.

"We’re discussing these proposals directly with our staff and working closely with union representatives through a full and open consultation process to align on the best approach.

"We’re committed to growing our business, and the state-of-the-art facility at Portlaoise – which was purpose-built in 2020 to make high quality mozzarella cheese – remains crucial to our strategy.

"We are proud to be a contributor to the Irish economy as both an employer and supporter of Irish dairy," the Leprino representative finished.

Leprino EU, headquartered in Northwich, Cheshire, is part of the Leprino Foods Company of Denver, Colorado. Leprino Foods Company is a world leader in the production of premium-quality dairy food and ingredients.

In 2023, Glanbia sold full ownership of the factory to Leprino for €200 million. 

The two firms partnered almost 50:50 in the Portlaoise plant which went into operation in April 2021 making pizza mozzarella cheese for the European market.

Pictured: Inside the Portlaoise factory

The development, which was announced in July 2018, was the first big client to set up in the Laois County Council driven National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise. 

It is located near the M7 Togher interchange on a new access road built by the Council that also links to the town's Clonminham Industrial Estate.

Glanbia previously said 100 people work at the plant and has a production capacity of 45,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese per annum.

The 40,000-metric ton facility requires significant amounts of dairy ingredients - the equivalent of 400 million litres of milk a year to operate.

Leprino Foods employs approximately 5,500+ people worldwide and has global sales in over 79+ countries. The business' expanding international presence provides access to key markets across the globe.

This includes the EU and UK with plants in Llangefni, Wales; Magheralin, Northern Ireland; and Portlaoise in the Republic of Ireland.

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