Soft drinks company Coca Cola is to invest €26m into its Ballina operations in Mayo, making it the only production site outside of the US to use its ‘Freestyle’ technology.
Coca Cola patented its Freestyle technology back in 2010. It allows consumers to choose from 165 different beverages from a touch screen dispenser.
The investment into its Ballina base, where they have created 25 extra jobs, will facilitate the firm’s expansion of the new product into Europe. Coca Cola said the facility will meet the demand from 10 European nations .
Coca Cola boss Muhtar Kent expressed his delight at the expansion of the Irish plant.
“The Coca-Cola system now employs 1,750 people across six locations in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Today’s investment further underpins our commitment with Ballina now involved in the production of our innovative Freestyle technology, facilitating its expansion into other key European markets and offering more choice to our consumers,” he said.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the investment represents a major vote of confidence in the Irish economy.
“Coca-Cola have been an important element of the local economy and significant employer in Mayo since 2000 and across Ireland for over six decades. Today’s announcement is a further vote of confidence in the Western region by a major multinational company.”
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