Irish Dog Foods set to double its business in Ireland

Initial €20m investment will double production capacity

Investment to create 150 new jobs

Expanded deal with ’Sam’s Club’ will see firm grow its US presence through the Walmart Group

Irish Dog Foods, Ireland’s largest manufacturer and exporter of complete pet foods and treats, has announced the launch of an ambitious three-year expansion programme. The programme, which gets underway with a €20 million investment, will see Irish Dog Foods double its business and create more than 150 jobs over a three-year period, 50 of which will come on stream with immediate effect.

The first phase of the €20 million expansion programme will include the development of a new production facility at Irish Dog Foods headquarters in Kildare. The new facility will include state-of-the-art, eco-efficient and sustainable technology.

The newly created positions are primarily in operations roles and come on stream immediately with some positions already being filled following a successful recruitment drive. The broader expansion plan will create a further 100 roles across a range of positions including business development, finance, management, operations, and marketing.

First established in 1985, Irish Dog Foods is owned by the Arrow Group and led by familymember, Liam Queally. The Company, which currently employs 370 people in Ireland and a further 370 across sites in the UK and South Africa, has experienced exponential domestic and international growth in recent years, reporting a record 55% increase in revenues on 2021.

Irish Dog Foods currently exports its products to over 40 countries worldwide and is aiming to increase its existing presence in the United States through a growing partnership with the Walmart owned ‘Sam’s Club’ which will bring an expanded range of Irish Dog Foods products to stores around the country.

Speaking about the expansion programme, Liam Queally, Managing Director, Irish Dog Foods, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of a new expansion programme for Irish Dog Foods. We pride ourselves on our culture of innovation which has created a unique and dynamic workplace where collaboration thrives, allowing us to stay ahead of the curve to meet changing consumer demands in a rapidly evolving market. This investment will enable us to double our production capacity so we can continue to meet increasing demand for our products both domestically and internationally.”

In addition to the United States and South Africa, Irish Dog Foods is seeking to cement its position as one of the leading pet food and treat suppliers in Europe and the United Kingdom. The company is currently the main supplier for major retailers and discounters in the UK and recently added one of the UK’s largest retailers to their impressive customer portfolio.

Liam Queally, Managing Director, Irish Dog Foods, continued: “We are a family-owned business, built on a track record of progress, and while we are proud of our heritage, we have truly global ambitions to expand our business internationally. This investment will act as a catalyst which will accelerate our growth trajectory over the next three years. Our goal is to hire more than 150 new team members to support our growth over that period. We are proud to be able to offer a diverse range of fulfilling job opportunities across the company and look forward to welcoming people to the Irish Dog Foods family as we continue to make pets happy and healthy worldwide.”