IDA Ireland launch Connect and Invest – Dundalk

IDA Ireland yesterday launched ‘Connect and Invest – Dundalk’, the sixth phase of its digital marketing initiative for attracting inward investment by highlighting the specific attributes of individual regional urban centres.

‘Connect and Invest – Dundalk’ is an interactive experience designed for use on tablet, smartphone and PC.  Information on location, education, lifestyle and existing IDA and indigenous companies is provided through rich images, video and text and will be continuously updated.  The website allows IDA executives to showcase Dundalk in face-to-face client meetings.

Dundalk and the North East Region have a strong cluster of international business services, including eBay, Coca-Cola, National Pen, International Fund Services and Liberty Mutual. It also has a wide range of companies in the manufacturing sector including Cargotec, Becton Dickinson, CG Power Systems, Wellman, Bose Abbot and Heinz.  These international brands are an attraction for additional companies to potentially locate to the North East.

The North East also has a vibrant cluster of indigenous companies including Hilton Foods, HJ Heinz, Glanbia, Irish Cement and Glen Dimplex in Louth, Rye Valley Foods, Monaghan Mushrooms, Silver Hill Foods Ltd and McArees Engineering Works in Monaghan and Carton Bros Ltd, Liffey Meats, Abbott Laboratories and Quinn Packaging Ltd in Cavan.

Commenting on the launch Breda O’Toole, Regional Business Development Manager, IDA Ireland said  “Connect and Invest – Dundalk’ is an innovative digital marketing application that showcases the North East at its best.

“The excellent infrastructure and close proximity to Dublin, coupled with the brand names in the International Business Services, Engineering & ICT and indigenous industries, provides the North East with a strong value proposition for clients.  This new marketing tool will greatly assist us in conveying to clients all that the region has to offer. IDA looks forward to continuing to work closely with its partners in the region to promote the location as an attractive place for inward investment and job creation opportunities.”

29 jobs to go at Heinz in Dundalk

The Heinz factory in Dundalk

29 jobs are set to go at the HJ Heinz plant in Dundalk as the company moves ahead with plans to cut 10% of its global workforce.

Heinz announced in August that they were developing a new “streamlined structure”, which could result in lay offs.

They are now proceeding with these plans, with 29 of its 200-plus staff in Dundalk being made redundant. The company are seeking 23 voluntary redundancies from its operations staff and six compulsory redundancies from management staff.

A statement from Heinz said they were reducing the workforce “to meet reduced production demands.”

A 30 day consultation process is now underway with the company planning “enhanced severance benefits” for all those affected.

Heinz first came to Dundalk in 1993 and are based at the Finnabair Industrial Estate. They have picked up numerous awards over the years, with the local factory dedicated to making frozen meals as opposed to other products the company are famed for such as their baked beans and range of sauces.

This week’s Dundalk Democrat

This week’s Dundalk Democrat leads with a story about a heartless thief who stole over €300 from a local collector, who was carrying out a collection on behalf of those who have suffered from the recent devastation in the Philippines. There’s also confirmation of news that first broke in August that jobs are to go at HJ Heinz in Dundalk, while there’s also a 16 page supplement with the paper of old photographs.

All that and more in this week’s Dundalk Democrat… on sale now!

Related articles

• Up to 60 jobs under threat at Heinz (talkofthetown.ie)