PepsiCo announces €39m expansion at Irish manufacturing facility
The Little Island site produces concentrate for PepsiCo’s portfolio of global brands including Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Gatorade, 7Up and Mountain Dew.
The majority of the investment (€36.6m) will expand manufacturing capacity for a range of beverage ingredients, support increased demand for existing PepsiCo products, and ‘play a key role in bringing PepsiCo’s innovation pipeline to its global customer base’.
A further €2.4m will go towards a major solar PV installation at the Little Island facility, which will significantly reduce the amount of electricity consumed at the site. The solar PV installation is expected to be completed in Q4 2023.
The installation is expected to generate 1820 kW and will have peak capacity to provide 100% of the plant's electrical demand. Over the course of a year, the solar panels will provide 22% of the electricity required by the site.
PepsiCo has had a presence in Ireland since 1974. Little Island Site Director, Brian Colgan said: “This latest investment will provide additional capacity for the markets we serve, enhance production capability, and further reinforce the strong sustainability credentials of our site in Little Island. As we approach 50 years in Cork, we are extremely proud of this latest milestone and the benefits that will arise for Little Island and the wider Cork region”.
The investment follows the completion of a €127m investment in the same site and the adjacent R&D facilities in May.
PepsiCo currently has approximately 100 vacancies in Cork, and already employs more than 1,250 people in Ireland.
