Dawn Farms, an Irish food company that supplies cooked and fermented meat ingredients to international foodservice chains and food manufacturers, is planning to invest €25m to enhance its research and development capabilities at its Meat Science and Innovation Centre in Naas, Ireland.

The company anticipates that its investment would create employment opportunities for nearly 150 people over the next five years.

Dawn Farms CEO Larry Murrin said: “Developing new products to meet changing consumer tastes has been at the heart of the growth of this firm for over 30 years.

“Our Meat Science & Innovation Centre at our Naas headquarters is the innovation hub wher we support our customers in over 40 markets worldwide.

“Great ingredients make great food and great ingredients come from outstanding food innovation.

"Consumers’ tastes are constantly evolving.

"We are passionate students of the marketplace and closely monitor consumer trends.

“We are seeing more demand for home-style authentic meats, new flavours and new snacking options, as well as on-going interest in health and wellness across the range of meats that we cook.”

The new initiative has also received support from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.

Murrin concluded: “Today’s announcement is major vote of confidence in our people, our innovation process and our customers who are involved at every stage.

“This investment will enhance our capacity to research trends, to develop new products and exciting new production technologies while ensuring that the highest standards of food safety and security are upheld.

“Typically the new roles will be at least graduate level, with opportunities for more highly qualified food scientists, meat technologists and those with culinary expertise to join the company.”