Coca Cola is to invest €26m in Co Mayo, with its Ballina facility set to become the first production site for the company’s freestyle technology outside of the US.
25 jobs will be created in Ballina over the next three years as part of the investment.
Coca Cola’s freestyle technology is a touch screen soda fountain, which was first introduced by the company in the US in 2010.
The dispenser features more than 165 different Coca Cola beverage choices from across the company’s full product range.
Over 40,000 Coca Cola freestyle machines are in operation across the US, with the Ballina investment aimed at facilitating expansion of the freestyle model across Europe.
Demand from ten countries expected to be met by the production team in Ballina.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the investment represented “a significant vote of confidence by the company in Ireland and Mayo itself.
“Coca-Cola have been an important element of the local economy and significant employer in Mayo since 2000 and across Ireland for over six decades.”
Coca Cola CEO Muhtar Kent said: “Today’s investment further underpins our commitment with Ballina now involved in the production of our innovative Freestyle technology, facilitating its expansion into other key European markets and offering more choice to our consumers.”
The US drinks company first arrived in Northern Ireland in 1934 and in the Republic in 1952.
Coca Cola now employs over 1,700 people at facilities in Antrim, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Mayo and Wexford.
