Chanelle Group’s €86m investment programme in Loughrea, Co Galway, will generate 350 new roles in Connacht over the next five years.
An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney, TD, today (6 September) officially opened a new €10m manufacturing facility operated by the Chanelle Group in Loughrea, Co Galway.
The 30,000 sq ft facility is Europe’s first dedicated site for the production of Spot On, a topical treatment used to protect cats and dogs from parasites. The site is built to both European and US standards.
The global market in antiparasitic health products for small animals is expected to reach a value of $2.28bn by 2026. The rapid growth in market demand is due to increased spending by pet owners on healthcare for their pets.
Chanelle has secured Spot On manufacturing contracts in excess of €20m with animal health companies in the EU, Asia, the Middle East and the US. Construction of this new facility is to commence in 2019.
Chanelle also announced the next phase of its capital investment programme, which will see it construct a 25,000 sq ft manufacturing facility for the production of liquid and paste medicinal products for the US market. Construction of this site will also begin in 2019.
The company expects to create 350 additional roles in the region over the next five years, bringing its total investment to €86m. It is the largest announcement made by Chanelle Group managing director Michael Burke in its history.
Since 2016, the firm has invested more than €55m and created 175 new jobs at its global headquarters in Loughrea. This new investment will bring the company’s total headcount in Galway to 850.
“Chanelle Group is one of Ireland’s leading exporters in the manufacture of veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, trading with over 90 countries worldwide,” said Coveney at the official opening.
“The company’s pioneering approach to product innovation has been a key factor in [its] substantial growth in recent years. With over 96 products in its R&D pipeline, Chanelle is well positioned to continue to expand into new markets.”
