LOWRY ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF TIPPERARY WATER BOTTLING PLANT
– UP TO 100 JOBS TO BE CREATED –
Deputy Michael Lowry has today confirmed that Oscar Wilde Water® has purchased a plant site in Borrisoleigh involving an investment of €3 million, with the creation of up to 100 new jobs over the next twenty-four months. Production of its premium glass bottled water will commence with immediate effect.
The site was formerly Tipperary Water which was the property of C&C Gleeson Ltd. It closed in 2016 with the loss of more than 100 jobs.
Deputy Lowry said that he is delighted to announce the arrival of Oscar Wilde Water® to Borrisoleigh. “Borrisoleigh has for generations been synonmous with the drinks industry. It has in recent years suffered a number of setbacks with the loss of employment and local economic activity. I have worked closely with all of the partners involved to ensure that this long tradition is reestablished in Borrisoleigh.
This is a welcome boost to the local economy and creates employment opportunity of up to 100 people in two years. The new company enjoys the confidence and support of an experienced and knowledgable workforce and from all of the relevant state agencies. I am confident that it will have a successful and bright future and will make a very meaningful and vauable contribution to the Borrisoleigh / Thurles – Templemore district.”
Over the past two years the company has supplied its glass bottled water into high-end hotels and restaurants throughout Ireland and has seen significant growth in interest in its brand, both nationally and internationally. They will shortly launch an exciting new range of high quality tonic water and flavored beverage products to compliment its move into the new plant, each of which will be filled from the multi-gold medal award winning water source which forms the bedrock of the Borrisoleigh facility.
CEO, John Hegarty, said, “The area has a rich bottling heritage dating back well over 60 years plus a local workforce with a collective 250+ years bottling experience. The move into this 50,000 sq ft facility will create up to 100 new jobs in Borrisoleigh and will allow Oscar Wilde Water® significantly expand both its product range and output volume.
We must sincerely thank Deputy Michael Lowry T.D. for tireless efforts in ensuring a positive outcome to the deal. His tremendous work was a major factor in making this happen. The Government grant assistance which we received from LEO and LEADER has also greatly assisted our efforts to relocate to the Borrisoleigh plant.”
Cllr John Carroll, Chair of Tipperary LCDC said, “North Tipperary LEADER Partnership (NTLP), on behalf of the Tipperary LCDC are delighted to support Borrisoleigh Bottling LTD’s new venture in Borrisoleigh. This enterprise promises to bring up to 100 full time jobs to the town and with it, enhanced economic and social vitality for the community.
Local job generation has a huge influence on the economic and social sustainability of a town like Borrisoleigh and NTLP with Tipperary LCDC see only positive things coming from this investment in Oscar Wilde Water®.
The company has already secured a number of bottling contracts from a key Irish bottled water brand to help it achieve true economies of scale from the outset, along with receiving commitment from C&C Group to support Oscar Wilde brands in its wholesale operations into the future.
With an established workforce already in place, plus a high quality water source and facility capable of producing up to 250,000 bottles each day, this iconic brand is set to become a primarily export led business with strong expressions of interest and distribution agreements already in place for a large number of countries, including the UK and US.
Tom McCusker, managing director of C&C Group Ireland, commented,
“In securing the sale of the Pallas Street site in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, to Oscar Wilde Water Company, C&C is delighted to see the continuation of water production in Borrisoleigh and the significant number of jobs that will be created in the town as a result.
We wish the Oscar Wilde Water team every success and look forward to supporting this Irish Artesian water company as part of our wholesale business into the future”.
