UK Snack Manufacturer, Mackle Food, set to expand and create jobs with £6.5m investment

Dungannon-based Mackle Food Company is investing £6.3m to expand its factory, enhance automation, and boost productivity. The company also plans to create 32 jobs.

Mackle Food Company supplies global brands and exports its products worldwide, 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.

Snack product manufacturer Mackle Food Company is to create new jobs and invest £6.5m to expand its factory, enhance automation, and boost productivity / Picture: Getty/iStock

Joseph Mackle, managing director at Mackle Food Company, said: “The support we are receiving through Invest NI’s Agri-Food Investment Initiative is helping us to automate our 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.”

Kieran Donoghue, chief executive of Invest NI, said: “Invest NI has worked closely 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. 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.”