Ireland-based taste and nutrition company Kerry has opened a €20m production facility in Tumkur, India.

This is Kerry’s fourth significant investment in India.

Located 120km from Bangalore, a city in India’s southern state of Karnataka, the 40,585m² facility will serve KerryTaste & Nutrition’s global and regional customers in the South West Asia region with Kerry Taste and Beverage systems.

Kerry Taste and Beverage systems will cater to the fast-growing retail and foodservice segments.

The facility was opened by Irish Ambassador to India, Brian McElduff.

McElduff said: “The investment serves as a welcome vote of confidence in India, and further supports growing business relations and bilateral trade between the two countries.”

Initially, the facility is expected to employ 150 people for factory management and production. The company intends to hire another 150 people once the facility reaches its full production capacity.

To support Kerry’s sustainability goal, the Tumkur facility will make use of solar power and is equipped with energy efficient LED technology. It is designed to maximise natural light to reduce energy consumption.

Additionally, the facility has been designed to support water harvesting measures to reduce water intake. The facility is expected to deliver significant water efficiencies, with wastewater treatment on site to achieve zero liquid discharge.

Kerry vice-president and general manager Scott Scharinger said: “Our Tumkur facility will enable Kerry to offer a broader range of technologies, and more comprehensive scientific research and innovation and application expertise across Kerry’s Taste & Beverage Systems, to our customers with unrivalled speed.”