Kerry has officially opened its upgraded facility in Rome, Georgia. A total of €125m ($137m) has been invested in the food manufacturing facility, making it Kerry’s largest ever capital expenditure investment.

Dignitaries from the state of Georgia and Ireland attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, which took place on Monday 14 March.

The 316,000sqft facility, which now employs 250 people, provides integrated taste and nutrition services to help customers meet consumer demand in the poultry, seafood and alternative protein markets across the US and Canada. As part of the company’s sustainability strategy, it has prioritised sustainability initiatives across the entire facility. This includes using 100% renewable electricity, zero waste to landfill, bulk receiving of materials, local sourcing wher possible and the extensive use of energy efficient equipment.

Oliver Kelly, President and CEO of Kerry in North America, said: “We are delighted to officially open this new facility which more than doubles our capacity in Rome and is now one of the most advanced and modern food manufacturing facilities in the country. The increased and changing demand from consumers for tasty, nutritious and sustainable food and beverages is driving accelerated change and reshaping the entire food industry. Investing in world-class facilities, such as this one in Georgia, allows us to ensure that we can continually work and co-create with our customers to respond to this changing demand.

“This world-class facility in Rome, Georgia, is just one example of our dedication to our goal of reaching over two billion people with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030. We are very thankful for the support that we have received from the Governor of Georgia’s office and we look forward to this continued partnership.”