Irish cooked meats group O’Brien Fine Foods is to expand capacity at its ham processing facility in Timahoe, Co. Kildare.

The company, which produces meats sold under the Rudd’s and Brady Family brands, is expanding the site by 8,000 square metre in a move that will more than double production capacity and create 40 additional jobs. The EUR14m (US$15.1m) investment will increase the number of people employed at the facility to 310 staff over the next two years. 

John O’Brien, managing director at O’Brien Fine Foods, said: “It is our ambition to become the leading producer in the cooked meats sector and today’s announcement is an important step in this process. Not only will the investment in our facility significantly increase our operational capacity, but it will also improve our efficiency, expand our production capabilities to other proteins and positively impact our sustainability credentials.”

The Timahoe facility produces both Brady Family and own-label cooked meats for the delicatessen and pre-packed markets. Construction at the facility has started, with work expected to be completed in June.