A sudden Blow to Portlaoise

The Leprino cheese plant in ⁢Portlaoise, County Laois, is set to close in the second half of 2026, leaving 132 employees facing an uncertain future.⁣ The declaration, made yesterday by the American dairy products company, has sent shockwaves through the local community and sparked ‍immediate concern from union representatives.

Leprino, a global⁣ leader in mozzarella ‍production with a presence in 79 countries and a⁣ workforce exceeding 5,500, cited ongoing unprofitability as the reason for the closure. The company intends ‍to consolidate production ‍at its existing facilities in Magheralin, County Down, and Llangefni, Wales. Leprino also stated it will explore options for the Portlaoise site with‍ potential third-party buyers.

Workers in “State of Shock”

The news came as a complete ⁤surprise to employees, ⁤many of whom are still processing the announcement. Terry Bryan, a SIPTU organizer in the Agri-Food &‍ Drink sector, expressed his disbelief, stating,⁣ “It’s a state of shock.” He emphasized the workforce’s skill and commitment,notably given the recent investment in the facility.

“It’s my understanding ‍that this facility cost approximately €140 million to build, and there’s been further investment in it since,” Bryan said. “It is indeed state of the art, and it is really a difficult decision to comprehend, with that type of investment and the highly skilled and committed ⁣workforce.” ‍SIPTU intends to engage with Leprino in the coming weeks to explore all possible alternatives to save jobs and secure a satisfactory agreement for affected workers.

The plant produces ⁢a range of dairy products, including mozzarella and string cheese, as well ⁢as lactose, whey protein, micellar casein, and sweet whey. The loss of these production⁣ lines will undoubtedly impact the Irish dairy supply chain.

Local Economy Braces for Impact

The closure is also a⁤ notable blow to the local economy.Jackie Carroll, CEO of the Laois Chamber Alliance, described herself as “absolutely flabbergasted” by the decision.She ⁣highlighted the relatively recent opening of the state-of-the-art facility – ⁤less than five years ago‍ – and the shock felt by the 130 employees. ‍ Carroll⁤ has called for a swift response from the Irish Government and state agencies to mitigate the economic fallout.

The timing ⁤of the closure, slated for the second half of 2026, provides a window for intervention and potential solutions.⁣ However,the scale of the job‍ losses necessitates immediate ⁢attention and proactive planning.

Leprino’s response and Future Plans

Paul Vernon, Chief Executive ⁣of Leprino Europe, acknowledged the ‍impact of the decision on employees, their families, and the Portlaoise ⁤community. He stated, “We understand the impact this announcement will have⁣ on our colleagues, their families, and the local⁣ community.” ⁢Vernon also expressed gratitude for the “talented team at Portlaoise,” emphasizing that the decision “does not lessen the value of their hard work or‍ contributions.”

While Leprino is ⁣consolidating⁢ production, the company maintains it is open to exploring opportunities for the Portlaoise site. This suggests a potential sale or repurposing of ‍the facility, which could offer a ‍glimmer of hope for the future of the ⁣location.