Northern Ireland dairy co-operative Dale Farm has announced it is investing £70 million in its cheddar processing facility at Dunmanbridge, Co. Tyrone.

Investment plans will see Dale Farm integrate technologies and equipment at the site, aiming to boost production and make “significant sustainability gains”. The site’s cheese production capacity will reportedly increase by 20,000 tonnes a year, while reducing the site’s carbon footprint by an estimated 4,500 tonnes per year.

The investment comes on the back of successive years of growth for Dale Farm, and in response to customer growth across the UK, Europe and beyond, with the site already exporting cheddar to 40 countries worldwide.

Nick Whelan, group chief executive at Dale Farm said the investment will support growth and capability for the co-operative: “Dale Farm has built a strong reputation as a leader in cheddar production, and thanks to our reputation for quality, sustainability and consistency, we are seeing strong customer growth in the category.

“Key to our success is the dedication and ingenuity demonstrated on a daily basis by our team right across the business. We are already exporting to 40 countries, and with this investment we want to build on that momentum and future proof our operation at Dunmanbridge for decades to come.”

The Dunmanbridge site currently supports over 1,100 families in the local area, with 345 employed at the facility and a further 760 farms, out of Dale Farm’s 1280 milk producers, supplying milk to it.

Whelan said: “The sustainability and profitability of our farmers and their businesses are at the heart of every decision we make as a co-operative. Thanks to the success of our strategy and growth, we are in a position where we can make an investment of this scale while continuing to pay a competitive milk price.

“This investment will be transformative not just for Dale Farm, but for the Northern Ireland rural economy. We have big plans for the future and are looking forward to the next step of this journey.”