2 minute read - 16th December 2022
Mulrines to make factory investment and create new jobs
Drink and liquid food manufacturer Mulrines is investing significantly in a new manufacturing facility in Northern Ireland, creating 54 new jobs in the first three years.
The fourth-generation family business includes apple orchards, juice pressing, blending, and the production of fruit juices, fruit drinks and plant-based beverages for the retail, wholesale and food service sectors in the Republic of Ireland, UK and other markets.
The company has purchased a 22-acre site at Sion Mills in County Tyrone and is renovating existing buildings to create a large-scale manufacturing facility. The new factory will offer additional capacity for its fruit juice products and enable the company to enter the fast-growing oat drink market.
Drink and liquid food manufacturer Mulrines is making a significant investment in a new factory in Northern Ireland, creating 54 new jobs in the first three years / Picture: Invest NI
Peter Mulrine, chairman of Mulrines, said: “This project is the culmination of a number of years of research, planning and negotiation. Invest NI has worked with us throughout. The UK plant-based beverage market is experiencing year-on-year growth and this new factory will provide an opportunity for us to enter the fast-growing oat drink market. It also offers additional capacity for our core fruit juice and beverage business.
“As a business we are focused on sustainability. All our packaging planned for the Sion Mills site is made from fibre board, a renewable source and is fully recyclable. We recognise and are encouraged by the benefits of oat drink which leaves a far smaller carbon footprint than dairy milk. The construction of the new factory capacity and the resulting new jobs are just the first phase of our investment in Sion Mills. The additional production capacity offers a significant opportunity for us to deliver additional fruit juice sales across our existing and new markets. As a result of increased production, we are likely to need additional storage which will form the basis of our second phase of investment in the facility.”
Once in place, Invest NI expects the new roles will deliver nearly £1.4m in annual salaries to the local economy. Invest NI has offered support towards the creation of the roles, with funding provided once the jobs are in place.
Mel Chittock, interim CEO of Invest Northern Ireland, added: “This project will see the former Herdmans site brought back to life after nearly 20 years, creating new employment in the area and delivering significant local supply chain benefits. The company plans to create the 54 new jobs by 2026. The roles include operatives, administrators, team supervisors, maintenance and logistics. With average salaries in the mid £20k range, the roles offer great opportunities in the area.”