Dale Farm invests £70m in Tyrone cheese factory

WELL-known dairy cooperative, Dale Farm, is investing £70 million in its cheddar processing facility at Dunmanbridge, on the outskirts of Cookstown.

The expansion will mark one of the largest-ever single investments by a Northern Ireland agri-food company.

The Dunmanbridge site currently directly supports over 1,100 families in the local area, with 345 employed at the facility and a further 760 farms, out of Dale Farm’s 1280 milk producers, supplying milk to it.

The plans will see the Dale Farm integrate state-of-the-art technologies and equipment at the site, boosting production and making significant sustainability gains as the cooperative builds on its expertise as a leading European cheddar manufacturer.

The expanded operation is expected to boost production by 20,000 tonnes per year. Work is already underway and is scheduled for completion in February 2025.

Nick Whelan, Dale Farm’s group chief executive, said the investment would support growth and capability for the cooperative, and position the company as ‘a leading cheddar player in Europe’.

Mr Whelan said, “Dale Farm has built a strong reputation as a leader in cheddar production, and thanks to our reputation for quality, sustainability and consistency, we are seeing strong customer growth in the category.

“Key to our success is the dedication and ingenuity demonstrated on a daily basis by our team right across the business. We are already exporting to 40 countries, and, with this investment, we want to build on that momentum and future-proof our operation at Dunmanbridge for decades to come.”

The investment will increase the site’s cheese capacity by 20,000 tonnes per year, while also expanding its WPC (whey protein concentrate) capacity.

It will incorporate the integration of advanced energy efficient technologies which together with new production processes will reduce the site’s carbon footprint by an estimated 4,500 tonnes per year when compared against milk powder production.

Mr Whelan added, “This investment will be transformative, not just for Dale Farm, but for the Northern Ireland rural economy. We have big plans for the future and are looking forward to the next step of this journey.”