Commitments to Portlaoise Glanbia workers must be honoured after €160 million sale

Commitments to Glanbia Cheese workers in Portlaoise must be honoured following its sale, a local TD has said.   

Laois Offaly TD Carol Nolan said she fully expects the positions of the existing workforce at Glanbia Cheese to be protected following the sale of the hugely successful brand to the Leprino Foods Company (“Leprino Foods”).

She was speaking after the owners of Glanbia Cheese, Glanbia plc, had signed a non-binding agreement for Leprino Foods to acquire full ownership of Glanbia Cheese for an estimated €160 million.

Glanbia Cheese has three manufacturing facilities – Llangefni in Wales, Magheralin in Northern Ireland and locally in Portlaoise.

Glanbia says 100 people work at the plant in Portlaoise which has a production capacity of 45,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese per annum.

In a statement, the company gave commitments to its staff in relation to the works.  

“Post completion, the existing team will continue to manage the business, led by CEO Paul Vernon and his senior management team, with no disruption to day-to-day operations,” Glanbia said.

“I very much welcome the strong wording of the statement issued today in terms of the commitment to continue with the existing team with no disruption to day-to-day operations,” said Deputy Nolan.

“It is vital that the position of this facility is maintained and strengthened given that it has the capacity to use the equivalent of over 360 million litres of milk per year. This clearly indicates its value to the Irish dairy sector,” said Dep Nolan.  

“Rural Ireland needs the kind of growth and commitment that Glanbia have provided. But it also needs firm job security when acquisitions of this kind occur,” she said. 

Glanbia does €160 mill deal that includes sale of Portlaoise mozzarella plant

“I have been contacted by the company today about this deal and I will certainly be maintaining a close relationship to ensure that the objectives we all want to see in terms of rural jobs and rural economic growth are protected,” concluded Deputy Nolan.