PepsiCo announces €39m expansion of Cork facility

James Cox

PepsiCo Ireland has announced a €39 million expansion of its manufacturing facilities in Little Island, Co Cork.

This follows the completion of a €127 million investment in the same site and the adjacent R&D facilities earlier this year.

The new facility will expand PepsiCo’s Little Island manufacturing capacity, with an investment of €36.6m, for its range of beverage ingredients, support increased demand for existing products and "play a key role in bringing PepsiCo’s innovation pipeline to its global customer base".

The expansion also includes a €2.4m investment in a major solar PV installation at the Little Island facility, which will "significantly" reduce the amount of electricity consumed at the site. The solar PV installation is expected to be completed at the end of this year.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney said: “This latest multi-million euro investment by PepsiCo, the second this year, reinforces its commitment to Ireland and to Cork. The company’s positive impact on the Irish economy since it first established a presence here in 1974 is hugely significant.”

PepsiCo’s Little Island site director Brian Colgan said: “This latest investment will provide additional capacity for the markets we serve, enhance production capability, and further reinforce the strong sustainability credentials of our site in Little Island. As we approach 50 years in Cork, we are extremely proud of this latest milestone and the benefits that will arise for Little Island and the wider Cork region”.

The company currently has approximately 100 vacancies in Cork. It employs more than 1,250 people in Ireland and has continued to increase operations personnel at the plant to support growth.

Using the latest manufacturing technology, the Little Island site produces concentrate for its portfolio of global brands including Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Gatorade, 7Up and Mountain Dew.