Glanbia Ingredients, the joint venture involving Glanbia co-op and Glanbia Plc, is to invest €35m in doubling the milk processing capacity at its cheese plant outside Wexford town, subject to planning permission.

The Wexford cheese and whey production facility was one of the assets purchased by Glanbia Ingredients for €20m two years ago, when it acquired Wexford Creamery in a deal opposed by some of Wexford’s supplier members.

The plant produced close to 20,000 tonnes of cheddar cheese last year and whey, which is used as a raw material for its growing sports nutrition business.

According to Glanbia, the investment will secure the cheese plant’s 48 jobs and also generate up to 70 jobs during the construction phase.

In a note on the wider implications of the abolition of milk quotas last April, Glanbia Ingredients notes that the milk supply from its 4,800 farmer suppliers has grown by 22% in the interim.

Jim Bergin, chief executive of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland commented on the proposals: "Our milk suppliers in Wexford are amongst the fastest growing and most progressive in the Glanbia catchment area.

"This investment will also enable further growth in our highly popular Wexford Cheese brand, which is being marketed in Ireland, the UK, the USA and, most recently, the Middle East."