Mushroom factory creates 150 jobs
Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith will officially open a new mushroom factory that will create 150 jobs in Co Monaghan
A new state-of-the-art mushroom growing facility will open with the creation of 150 jobs.
Monaghan Mushrooms is said to be one of the most modern plants of its kind in Europe, growing up to 6,000 tonnes of the fungi each year.
Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith will officially open the 12 million-euro site, which has been built in Tyholland, Co Monaghan.
He said the firm was a pioneer in the development of the industry.
"The mushroom industry is worth in excess of 100 million euro per year and over 70% of that production is exported," said Mr Smith.
"This business has always been a market-led industry with a straightforward objective - that is, to keep fresh mushrooms on the supermarket shelves, when, how and where the customer wants."
Founded in the 1981 by local entrepreneur Ronnie Wilson, Monaghan Mushrooms has become Europe's leading mushroom producer and a major Irish food exporter.
It employs 2,297 people across Ireland, the UK and Canada and supports a network of 27 independent growers throughout Ireland. It holds 17% market share in Ireland and 45% of the market share in the UK, the largest mushroom market in Europe, valued at 425 million euro.
Mr Wilson said the new development would have a very positive impact on Monaghan Mushrooms and the whole town by delivering even greater productivity and bringing employment.
Regarded as the most up-to-date development of its kind in Europe, it is made up of 18 individual mushroom growing houses that together provide a total growing area of 21,306 square metres. Each unit is equipped with the latest technology used in mushroom production including energy-efficient geothermal heating, cooling and humidification systems to guarantee a consistently high quality of product.
Press Association
