Mackle Food Company invests £6m in automation to raise productivity

Mackle Food Company, situated in Dungannon, has announced a £6.3 million investment to increase efficiency, automate, and expand its facility. Additionally, the business intends to add 32 jobs.

Established in 2005, Mackle Food Company specialises in extruded snack products for the early years and healthy eating markets.

Supported by Invest Northern Ireland, the investment will enable the company to significantly increase its sales in markets outside of Northern Ireland.

During a visit to the company’s factory in Moy, Dungannon, Kieran Donoghue, chief executive of Invest NI, noted Invest NI’s work with Mackle Food Company since 2007, supporting its journey of innovation, skills development and export growth.

“This significant investment, the first supported by our Agri-Food Investment Initiative, will help the company embrace automation and increase production capacity,” Donoghue said the ongoing relationship. “As part of the investment the company also plans to create 32 new jobs, injecting an additional £1.5m in annual salaries into the local economy.

“This investment aligns perfectly with our new strategy and our commitment to make Northern Ireland a sustainable, productive and prosperous economy.”

Mackle Food Company supplies global brands and exports their products around the world, making it a major player in private label manufacturing. Under the Agri-Food Investment Initiative, Invest NI has offered the company nearly £970,000 towards the capital investment.

Joseph Mackle, managing director of Mackle Food Company, said the support it is receiving through Invest NI’s Agri-Food Investment Initiative is helping the company automate its manufacturing processes.

“By replacing manual methods with advanced robotics and real-time production monitoring, we will enhance efficiency, reduce waste, move towards environmentally friendly materials, and significantly increase our outputs. This will ensure we are able to continue to grow our business as we expand into new markets and strengthen our relationships with global brands.

“A skilled workforce is essential to ensure automated processes are integrated properly. We are creating 32 new roles as part of this investment, including robotics engineers and IT automation support roles. These roles are crucial to ensure the new robotics and automation deliver efficiencies across the full manufacturing process.”

Gráinne Moody, director of Food and Drink at Invest NI, added: “Investment in automation and digitalised processes provides a real opportunity for increased productivity in the agri-food sector. Mackle Food Company’s investment will not only improve the efficiency of the business but will bring a welcome boost to the local economy. We look forward to seeing the company thrive as it continues to innovate and expand.”

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