Irish-based agri-businesses received more than €25m in State support from Enterprise Ireland (EI) in 2018 according to recently published data.

The Government agency which is charged with supporting export-focused Irish businesses along with attracting foreign direct investment in agri-food supported more than 110 agribusinesses across Ireland in 2018. The sums awarded to individual companies ranged from €54,000 to more than €3.5m.

Three international infant formula manufacturers based in Ireland (Abbott, Nutricia and Wyeth) received €5.4m in total or 21% of the total supports awarded to the sector in 2018. The dairy processors including Kerry Group accounted for 26% or €6.6m of funding. Arrabawn, Glanbia Ireland, Lakeland and Ornua received supports totalling €4.3m. Three meat processors (ABP, Irish Country Meats and Kepak) received just under €1m.

By company

Glanbia Ireland was the largest recipient of State supports through Enterprise Ireland in 2018, receiving a total of €3.6m. This was split across two locations, with €2.1m awarded for Wexford and €1.5m in Kilkenny.

Kerry Group received €2.3m in EI supports through two entities – ingredients and group services. It received €0.9m related to its Naas research centre, with the balance allocated to Co Kerry.

Abbott received the greatest support of the infant formula manufacturers based here, with €2.1m in supports. Wyeth was awarded €1.8m in support, while Nutricia received €1.5m.

Other dairy processors also received supports, with Lakeland Co-op receiving €442,163 and Arrabawn co-op receiving €216,121. Ornua, through its subsidiary Kerrygold Butter Packaging, received €76,578.

Irish Country Meats, based in Camolin in Wexford, received €489,250 while Kepak received €265,253. Larry Goodman’s ABP received €161,109 in supports from EI in 2018.

Cooked meats and ingredients company Dawn Farm Foods, which is part of the Queally Group (which also owns a share in Dawn Meats), received €1.5m.

Glenhaven Foods, which manufactures a range of poultry products for retail and food service and is based in Co Wicklow, received €1.9m. Panelto Foods, the privately held bakery company based in Co Longford, received €3.2m. A number of well-known engineering exporting companies also received supports. Mayo-based McHale engineering received €330,639, while Galway-based plastic manufacturer JFC received €62,558. Dairymaster, the Kerry-based company, received €222,500.

A range of smaller food businesses were awarded supports. Keogh’s Crisps received €249,562, Glenilen Yoghurts received €159,092 and M&M Walsh (Ribworld) received €135,164.

Irish Dog Foods, owned by the Queally Group, received €92,023 in supports, while Kilkenny-based family business William Connolly & Sons received €88,439. Dew Valley Foods, Europe’s largest cooked bacon manufacturer, owned by the Blake Family, received €1.1m.

Enterprise Ireland supports Irish agribusinesses in many ways depending on size and stage of development. It aims to drive greater scale in companies mainly through export growth by increasing innovation levels and improving competitiveness. It mainly does this through grants for capital projects including factories and R&D centres. EI also administered €1m through the Government’s Beef and Sheep Meat Investment Fund in 2018.

In addition to supporting Irish-owned businesses, EI has a remit to attract food industry foreign direct investment into Ireland.

In 2018, EI approved six new foreign direct investments for food industry projects including TINE (on the Dairygold Mogeely site) and Emerí Nutrition, the infant formula facility in Meath.