Kerry Group, the Irish food maker, plans to make 70 job cuts at its Shillelagh plant in County Wicklow.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The plant makes meat products and currently employs 820 staff at the facility. Director of corporate affairs Frank Hayes said that the company, like most businesses, is facing competitive pressures in the current climate.


“We have progressively grown the business very strongly over the last ten years and it is now very successful,” said Hayes. “There is no threat to the long-term future of the company but, as with all businesses at the current time, we have had to look at redundancies to maintain efficiency levels.


Hayes said that some of the plant’s output was exported into the UK market and the weakening sterling “made the landscape more competitive”.


The company has begun consultations with the staff and the redundancies are expected to be completed in the next two weeks.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now