Michael Carey, CEO of East Coast Bakehouse with Daragh Monahan, Commercial Director and  Alison Crowzer, Marketing and Innovation Director. 

A total of 100 jobs will be created as part of a €15 million investment in a new biscuit company in Drogheda, Co Louth.

The manufacturing facility will be based in a production unit "the size of a football pitch" at the Donore Road Business Park.

The domestic biscuit industry is worth €170 million, and the UK market is valued at over €2 billion. The East Coast Bakehouse will produce its own new brand and will also manufacture retail private label, serving both the domestic and export markets.

The founders of the new business are CEO, Michael Carey, Marketing & Innovation Director, Alison Cowzer, Commercial Director, Daragh Monahan, Operations Director, James Yarr and Chief Financial Officer, Gerry Murphy. This group were the management team that successfully established the Jacob Fruitfield Group before it was sold in 2011 to Valeo Foods.

Commenting at the launch, CEO, East Coast Bakehouse, Michael Carey said: “Every week over €3 million worth of biscuits is purchased and enjoyed by Irish consumers, almost all are currently imported. We aim to provide a new commercially competitive local Irish source of biscuits. There is also a great opportunity to provide high quality biscuits to UK retailers.”

“We carefully evaluated a number of locations for our facility before selecting Drogheda, and our location on Ireland’s east coast will play a key role in the future of our company. We have worked very closely with Enterprise Ireland on this project and we have been encouraged by local support so far for the development of this facility.”

“We are very pleased to be launching this new venture. Our management team combined has over 60 years experience in the sector and our drive to bake better biscuits, using select ingredients in a sustainable manner will become key to our business’ success in the coming years”, he concluded.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and Business and Employment Minister Ged Nash both attended the formal announcement.

This project is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.