Valeo Foods has announced new plans to source €14.5m in Irish ingredients this year, an increase of about €6m since 2009.
This includes a 20% increase in peas for its Batchelors brand.
The company, which owns such brands such as Chef, Erin, Odlums, Fruitfield, Jacobs, Sqeez and Shamrock, said the increase comes on the back of very strong export sales.
These have risen 15% year on year to €12m due to new account wins in a number of new markets across Europe, the Middle East, Australia, the US and Africa.
Valeo Foods employs over 400 people directly and many more indirectly and has operations in Dublin, Portarlington in Co Laois, Sallins in Co Kildare and Drogheda in Co Louth.
''We are encouraged how in the face of stiff international competition many of our brands continue to grow or hold market share in the Irish market. Our export results are particularly pleasing and we see a significant opportunity for future growth here,'' commented the company's group sales director Denis Lynch.
