Odlums invest 1 million in portarlington mill

Valeo Foods has announced that it has invested over €1 million in upgrading the Odlums milling facility in Portarlington.

The investment represents a major upgrade to the manufacturing operations of Ireland’s last remaining commercial mill, which will provide greater flexibility to produce a broader range of products as Odlums looks to increase its share of the popular Home Baking category, estimated to be worth approximately €124 million a year in Ireland.

The increase in production will facilitate anticipated growth in demand as Valeo Foods begins exporting the Odlums brand internationally; leveraging the supply chain capabilities of the company’s newly integrated European brands, Balconi in Italy and Rowse Honey in the UK.

This is the latest phase in a significant investment programme across Valeo Foods’ Irish production facilities, involving a total investment in excess of €10 million to date.

As part of the Odlums investment, Valeo Foods has also completely renovated and modernised the Odlums brand, launching over 20 new products including the fast growing Organic, Spelt, Gluten Free, and Bake Your Own ranges, and introducing innovative new packaging solutions such as the Resealable Tub range, all in response to changing consumer habits.

In addition to a new production line and efficiency upgrades, a key part of the investment has seen the creation of an in-house R&D unit, aimed at supporting the continued growth of the Odlums range through new product development.

Commenting on the investment, Chief Commercial Officer, Oliver Sutherland, Valeo Foods, said, “we are now in the next phase of growth for the iconic Odlums brand and are excited about the export opportunity that exists. Through our continued focus on innovation and new product development, we look forward to growing the brand in Ireland and abroad.”

Odlums currently produces over 120 products at its 170 year old Portarlington milling facility which employs 35 people locally.