Glanbia to open new HQ for its US cheese unit
FOOD
A US division of Glanbia is to spend up to $15m (€11.6m) on a new corporate headquarters, it was revealed yesterday.
Glanbia Foods, which claims to be the largest producer of 'American Style' cheese in the world, has agreed to open offices and an innovation centre in Twin Falls, Idaho, in the US.
Under the terms of the deal, Glanbia has leased an office block in downturn Twin Falls and is expected to spend the $15m renovating it.
The development, expected to be completed by March 2013, will include 35,000sq ft of office space and a 14,000sq ft innovation centre in the heart of the city. The complex will have 100 employees initially, slated to rise to 150.
Glanbia has had a presence in Idaho for more than 20 years. It is the base for the firm's US cheese business, shipping around 375,000 tonnes of the product across the States and around the globe every year.
Glanbia Foods has three plants in the region, including an innovation centre focused on the nutritionals business. This new centre will be concentrating on the cheese division.
Chief executive Jeff Williams said the development was crucial to the expansion of the firm.
"As we have grown, and as needs in the cheese market change, it was essential to ensure our team is located under one roof and [continue to] meet the requirements of our customers and the marketplace.
The investment in Idaho is the latest development in Glanbia's US operations, where higher margins and a stronger consumer base have boosted the company for some time.
- Peter Flanagan
Irish Independent
