Crust & Crumb, the manufacturers of chilled pizzas, pizza bases and flat breads, has announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art factory in Ballyconnell, County Cavan. A total of €5 million will be invested in this new facility, which is supported by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
The development of the company into its new location at Ballyconnell will enable expansion into the large and growing chilled pizza market in mainland EU countries. Approximately 80 full time jobs will be created at the facility.
Officiating at the announcement, Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD said: “This is a great day for Crust & Crumb, the surrounding communities and the entire county of Cavan. Ensuring we have the right conditions in place to encourage job creation in the regions is a big priority of mine, so I am delighted to see such a significant investment going into Ballyconnell. I would like to warmly congratulate Crust & Crumb on this fantastic announcement and look forward to seeing them reaching new heights with the talented workforce here in the local area.”
Crust and Crumb Bakery Limited (NI), the parent company, supplies retailers with chilled pizzas, pizza bases and flat breads and has been in operation since 2011. It operates two premises in Derrylyn, County Fermanagh, with a total floor area of 25,000 sq ft. One of these is dedicated to gluten free products, the second plant manufactures all other products in the portfolio. The portfolio of products includes ranges of chilled pizzas of various shapes and sizes, generally as Retailer Luxury Private Label with the use of novel bases such as pea flour bases to satisfy demand for low-carb, high protein pizzas for the likes of the Muscle Food brand.
Mark McCaffrey, Company Spokesperson, Crust & Crumb, added: “We wish to thank Enterprise Ireland for their support in this project. This investment was necessary for the company’s BREXIT Strategy and without financial support, this expansion could not have happened. We are hoping to have the factory operational by December 2018 and will start our employment recruitment campaign over the next coming months. Since announcing this expansion to our customers, we have been able to attain €6 million orders by having a presence in Europe. This Project is paramount to our survival after BREXIT.”
Kevin Buckley, Manager of Food FDI Europe, Enterprise Ireland, concluded: “The announcement is the second of the new Food FDI projects secured for Ireland by Enterprise Ireland in recent weeks and the fifth so far in 2018 bringing over €300 million of new investment into regional locations. Enterprise Ireland is responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment from the global food industry into Ireland and we are delighted to support this significant investment project. The result of this investment is 80 jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland which will deliver a positive impact to the North East region, supporting sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment. We are committed to working with Crust & Crumb to support this partnership.”
CAPTION:
Pictured (L-R): Kevin Buckley, Manager, Food FDI Europe, Enterprise Ireland; Aidan McKenna, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland; Mark Christal, Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland; Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD; Jill Griffith, Financial Controller, Crust & Crumb; Garrett Dee, Senior Development Advisor, Enterprise Ireland; and Mark McCaffrey, company spokesperson, Crust & Crumb.
