Kerry to make new LowLow snacks in Northern Ireland

Golden Cow, the Kerry Group subsidiary in Northern Ireland, is to manufacture new LowLow and Mattesson snacks for retailers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The company, based at Portadown in county Armagh, has invested £2.5 million in new production facilities and will provide 23 new jobs. Kerry has owned the Golden Cow plant, which has specialised in the production of butter and cheese, since 2001.

The Northern Irish plan has won the contract within Kerry to manufacture two innovative products, LowLow Snack Packs and Matteson's Chicken Dippers.

The diversification into snack foods is significant in that it widens the plant's portfolio and positions it to bid for further new product opportunities developing from Kerry Group's longstanding focus on convenience and snack foods for key markets abroad.

Camillus Fitzpatrick, Golden Cow's,financial controller, says: "The decision by Kerry Group to manufacture the new LowLow Snacks, in particular, in Portadown is recognition of our longstanding expertise and success in providing cheddar cheese products very cost-effectively to leading UK and Irish retailers over many years.

"We've installed a new production facility to manufacture both LowLow and Mattesson snacks, which for LowLow offer cheddar cheese slices, multi-grain toast and tasty relishes and seasoned prime chicken breast, dry crunch crumb and delicious relishes for the Mattesson's propositions.

"Both products have been developed to appeal to two fast moving consumer markets in Britain and the Republic that the group has identified. The Low Low product is targeted at consumers, especially women, seeking low fat foods that do not compromise on taste and quality.

"The Mattesson's chicken Double Dipper is another convenience snack designed to appeal to a wide consumer audience," he adds.

The Golden Cow plant employs 52 people in Portadown.