Leprino Foods is set to close its cheese manufacturing plant in Portlaoise, Ireland next year due to financial and operational challenges. Production of mozzarella and string cheese will be moved to other Leprino factories. The closure will affect 132 employees, with the company offering redundancy packages and career transition assistance.

Leprino Foods, based in Denver, Colorado, aims to maintain competitiveness in Europe by optimizing its manufacturing footprint. CEO Paul Vernon expressed gratitude to the Portlaoise team for their hard work. The closure announcement has prompted the Irish trade union SIPTU to engage with Leprino Foods to discuss the implications and explore alternatives.

SIPTU’s industrial organizer, Terry Bryan, described the closure of the modern facility as shocking and regrettable. Meetings between union representatives and Leprino Foods management are scheduled to address the impact of the decision on employees and their families. The closure is expected to take place in the latter half of 2022.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Leprino Foods to close Ireland cheese factory in 2026