Carbery throws weight behind nutrition business
investment and recruitment programme in response to a whey market
it says has "exploded".
The company said it would boost spending in key areas such as functional ingredients, infant nutrition, sports beverages and clinical nutrition.
Although the company did not release spending figures, it said it was laying down capital to increase, and improve, processing capacity as well as making a number of new personnel appointments.
Capital "Our investment across our nutrition business is a significant move for Carbery," said Carbery Food Ingredients director of sales and marketing, Noel Corcoran.
"Processing line improvements will further enhance product quality, demonstrating a long term commitment to providing the highest quality, value-added whey protein ingredients and finished formulations."
He added: "We are particularly well placed to cater to demand across the market and we want to ensure that the whole company is structured to meet our customers' demands."
Human capital The company was adding to its sales, technical and customer service teams.
Carbery's new marketing manager for ingredients, Paul Donegan, said the company would be placing a particular focus on sports nutrition products.
"I see huge potential in the sports nutrition arena and look forward to working with our customers to provide sports men and women with the best sport nutrition products around," he said.
"I see my role as crucial in communicating the functional and nutritional benefits of Carbery's ingredients to the trade, as well as supporting the sales effort with solid research and informative sales tools."
Last year the company launched vegetarian and organic versions of its whey protein, making it one of only a few companies offering such products.
Whey management is typically used in weight management and body building products and received a particular boost during the low-carb frenzy of a few years ago, particularly in the US, as products replaced carbohydrates with protein forms.
Given its relatively low cost price compared to some other specialist protein forms such as lactoferrin and colostrum, whey has established a strong presence as a functional ingredient.
It is increasingly used in foods and beverages that promote satiety.
Cork-based Carbery specialises in whey protein concentrates, isolates and hydrolysates, as well as other dairy ingredients aimed at the functional and healthy foods sector.
The €200 million a year earning company is owned by four Irish co-operatives and employs about 300 people.
