More biotech expertise for lactose-free milk: Kerry opens expanded manufacturing hub in Ireland
The Carrigaline facility combines enzyme strain development from Leipzig with large-scale lactase production
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Kerry has announced the opening of its expanded biotechnology manufacturing facility in Carrigaline, Co. Cork, significantly increasing its capacity to produce lactase enzymes at industrial scale.
The expansion strengthens Kerry’s ability to support dairy producers worldwide as demand accelerates for lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy products, enabling faster scale‑up, secure supply and consistent performance at commercial volumes.
“This investment translates decades of biotech research into scalable, real‑world capability,” said Shane McGibney, President & CEO, Biotechnology Solutions and Transformation at Kerry. “By strengthening the link between enzyme engineering and industrial production, we’re able to move innovations more efficiently from the lab to the production line – helping customers access reliable supply and bring new products to market with greater speed and confidence.”
The Carrigaline investment enhances Kerry’s end‑to‑end enzyme platform by more closely linking advanced enzyme engineering and strain development with large‑scale manufacturing. Working with Kerry’s Global Innovation Centre as the central hub, Kerry connects innovation and application development with its specialised biotechnology capabilities at the Kerry Biotechnology Centre in Leipzig, Germany, and expanded production capacity in Carrigaline, Ireland — accelerating the journey from lab‑based discovery to commercial application.
“This facility demonstrates how industry, skills and innovation come together to support the future of Ireland’s food and biotechnology sectors,” said Peter Burke, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. “As a global leader in food, Kerry Group continues to play an important role in advancing high value capability from its Irish base. Manufacturing sites like Carrigaline help move innovation towards scale and strengthen Ireland’s position in advanced manufacturing.”
Enabling faster, more resilient customer scale‑up
Demand for lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy continues to grow across global markets, as consumers seek products that support digestive comfort and reduced sugar intake without compromising taste or quality. Kerry’s expanded lactase capacity is designed to help dairy producers respond to this demand quickly, reliably and at scale.
“For our customers, this expansion is about execution as much as innovation,” said Ronan Moloney, Vice President of Enzymes at Kerry. “With increased manufacturing capacity in Carrigaline, combined with deep application expertise, we can support customers through enzyme selection, process optimisation and scale‑up – reducing bottlenecks and strengthening supply continuity as they commercialise lactose‑free and sugar‑reduced dairy products.”
A critical hub in Kerry’s global enzyme network
The Carrigaline site plays a central role in Kerry’s global manufacturing network, supporting more than 200 customers across over 80 countries. Lactase enzymes produced at the site are used to process more than two million tonnes of milk annually, reaching an estimated 28 million consumers worldwide.
With the expanded facility now operational, Kerry is well positioned to support the next phase of growth in lactose‑free and reduced‑sugar dairy. By combining decades of dairy science with advanced enzyme innovation and industrial‑scale manufacturing, Kerry enables producers to move from concept to commercialisation with greater speed, resilience and confidence — acting as a single, integrated partner across the full innovation lifecycle.
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