Britvic Ireland has announced an investment of €6 million in its Ballygowan facility in Newcastle West, County Limerick.
The soft drinks firm says the investment will help to grow the site's production capacity by over 20% in order to meet growing consumer demand for Ballygowan mineral water.
It will provide additional bottling capacity for the equivalent of 50 million fully recycled and recyclable 500ml bottles of Ballygowan, as well as enhancing production capability.
"It is not just about packaging, we're investing in the sustainability credentials of the site," said Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director of Britvic Ireland.
"We have reduced our carbon footprint on the site by over 92% and we've moved to the use almost exclusively of renewable energy to power the site, particularly wind energy. We're on the road to reaching net zero on the site by as early as 2025," he said.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Mr Donnelly said he welcomes the European Commission's decision to reduce the limits on organic nitrates used on certain farms here.
"We understand the direction of travel because water is such a precious resource. We are an accredited natural mineral brand which is the highest standard, higher than spring or tap water so we welcome anything that will improve the water quality."
The company says consumer demand has grown steadily in recent years with sales of Ballygowan products undergoing strong double digit volume growth compared to pre-Covid levels.
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Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director at Britvic Ireland, said the investment will create 28 new manufacturing roles for the local area.
"We are incredibly proud of this latest milestone in Ballygowan's journey as Ireland’s most loved and leading bottled water brand, and the benefits this investment will return for Britvic Ireland and the wider community in Newcastle West."
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, welcomed the strategic investment in the sustainable, long-term production of Ballygowan mineral water.
Newcastle West is the home and source of Ballygowan mineral water, which has been produced and bottled at source since 1984. Britvic Ireland have been a local employer in Newcastle West since 2007, and the facility currently employs 55 people in addition to the newly announced roles.
Ballygowan bottles are made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic (rPET), following a €2 million investment in the Newcastle West facility in 2021. When recycled correctly, rPET bottles can be reused continuously, becoming a key contributor to the circular economy and removing virgin plastic from the supply chain.
Britvic Ireland's portfolio also includes brands such as MiWadi, Pepsi, Club and TK.
