FoodCentral provides a catalyst for consolidation, collaboration and co-opetition to enhance competitive advantage for domestic and export markets
A master plan for the development of FoodCentral, a 113 hectare food park located beside Dublin Airport has been prepared in consultation with Fingal County Council, following on from the zoning of the site as approved for food park development in the Fingal Co Council, County Development Plan 2011 – 2017
Located immediately beside the airport, close to Dublin Port and with excellent M1, M2 and M50 Motorway access, FoodCentral provides a strategically located gateway to Ireland’s food market for Irish and overseas companies. FoodCentral has an optimal location for receiving and producing food products and distributing them nationally from the population centre in Dublin. Approx 75% of Ireland’s retail food distribution operates from within a 25km radius of FoodCentral.
Businesses currently located in FoodCentral and employing over 1,000 people include a number of Keelings and Donnellys businesses as well as foodservice company, Brakes. The existing businesses in the food park encompass a range of growing; food related processing and packing, foodservice and logistics operations. These diverse businesses are both competitors and co-operators in a number of respects involving shared services and inter-company trade.
FoodCentral aims for food and drink businesses locating within the park to foster co-location synergies and benefits. A wide scope of activities can be optimised to commercial and financial advantage. These activities include manufacturing, processing, logistics, innovation, research and development, sustainability, marketing, exhibition and administration.
It is critical for the growth of the Irish food and drink industry to continually improve cost competitiveness. The vision of FoodCentral is best expressed as the development of a major food-centric business and logistics hub for the domestic and export markets that facilitates and is a catalyst for consolidation, collaboration and co-opetition to enhance competitive advantage.
Commenting on the park’s objective Mr William Keeling, FoodCentral’s Managing Director said; “as FoodCentral develops with both existing and new businesses, its potential to deliver an environmentally attractive food park, harnessing synergies, sharing services, generating new opportunities and adding value to the food and drink sector can be realised in an environment which could generate up to 5,000 sustainable jobs, in a wide spectrum of activities.”
Commenting on the launch of FoodCentral, David O’ Connor, Fingal County Manager, said; “we welcome investment in the development of food related businesses in FoodCentral. Fingal, the food county, is a great location in which to develop a dynamic food related business in an attractive and supportive environment.”
Ends. 8 June 2011