Kerry Group is to invest $125m (€110m) in doubling the capacity of its existing food manufacturing facility in the state of Georgia in the US. According to Kerry, this is the largest ever capital expenditure investment in the history of the company.

The group’s global technology and innovation centre in Naas, Co Kildare, required an investment of €100m. Construction of the US facility is expected to begin immediately, with Kerry Group aiming to finish construction by 2021. It says the expanded capacity at its Georgia facility will increase the group’s manufacturing capacity in its largest market.

Kerry says the new 360,000 sq ft facility will be one of the most modern and efficient facilities of its kind in the world, with the highest standards of food safety. The Georgia facility will produce taste and nutrition solutions to help Kerry’s customers meet growing consumer demand in the poultry, seafood and alternative protein markets.

For 2019, Kerry Group’s business in North and South America delivered sales growth of 16.5% to reach €3.2bn.