Danone Plans Major Expansion with New Medical Nutrition Facility in Ireland

Danone, the multinational dairy and food company, has announced plans to expand its operations in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. The expansion involves building an Advanced Medical Nutrition (AMN) facility, which is expected to create up to 230 new jobs. The new facility is scheduled to open in late 2028 and will become fully operational by mid-2031.

The proposed AMN facility will be located adjacent to Danone's existing baby formula production site in Macroom, where brands like Aptamil and Cow & Gate are produced. The new development marks a strategic shift towards producing specialized liquid nutritional drinks for medical use, such as for cancer patients and stroke recovery, making it Ireland's first liquid medical nutrition facility.

The facility will include a 21,759 square meter production building, research and development facilities, utilities, and infrastructure to support its operations, including parking bays for 44 heavy goods vehicles. Once completed, the total employment at the Macroom site will reach approximately 460.

Danone has submitted its plans to Cork County Council, highlighting the project's alignment with the County Development Plan's economic policies, which aim to support sustainable regional development and employment opportunities. The company emphasized the significance of this investment as part of its long-term commitment to Ireland and its global operations.

A decision on the planning application is expected by the end of June. Danone operates in over 120 countries, with annual sales exceeding €27 billion. In addition to its Macroom operations, Danone runs a significant packaging facility in Wexford, Ireland.