Minister Michael Ring opens Irish Pet Foods in Westport New manufacturing business to employ 15
25th November 2016
L-R: Minister Michael Ring; Michael Cantwell, Manager – Food Division, Enterprise Ireland; Rasim Selçuk, CEO Irish Pet Foods
Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development officially opened Irish Pet Foods in Westport, Co. Mayo today (Friday 25 November 2016). The new business, which manufactures dry dog and cat food, currently employs six people and this number will increase to 15 within two years. It is owned by prominent Turkish businessman Mr Rasim Selçuk who has already invested €3 million in the project and expects to invest another €2 million building up the business. Enterprise Ireland has been an integral part of establishing the Westport plant and has worked closely with Mr Selçuk since he took over the ex-fish food manufacturing plant two years ago.
Mr Selçuk originally came to Ireland with the intention of purchasing machinery from the Skretting fish food manufacturing plant on Roman Island in Westport. The west of Ireland town made a deep impression on him, and instead he acquired the entire factory complete with machinery and set about changing it to a pet food manufacturing unit. Today it is a high spec, fully automated feed mill plant capable of producing top quality, high-end products.
Speaking at the launch Minister Ring said: “I am delighted to open Irish Pet Food’s new plant in Westport. With the help of Enterprise Ireland, which has the remit to target Foreign Direct Investment Projects in the Food sector, Rasim Selçuk had the vision to see that locating his new pet food company in Westport would provide him with the valuable resources, infrastructure and community that he needs to start and scale a successful business. The announcement that this new business will create 15 jobs here in Westport over the next two years is hugely welcome and of great significance to the local and regional economy. It also demonstrates why this Government is ambitious in its plans for regional job creation. I warmly congratulate Rasim, and all the team at Irish Pet Foods, and wish them every success for the future.”
Irish Pet Foods has already established export markets in Turkey and plans to expand to the UK and other European countries in the near future. They currently manufacture economy food under the brand name “Buddy” and are in the process of launching super premium brands “Pets Choice” and a second economy brand called “Yes”. Mr Selçuk attended the launch along with five business partners from Turkey.
“This is a very important day for me”, said Mr Selçuk, “My dream of officially opening Irish Pet Foods is now a reality. I would like to thank Enterprise Ireland for all the support they have given me and my team throughout this process. I look forward to Irish Pet Foods becoming an integral part of the Westport business landscape over the coming years.”
Mr Michael Cantwell, Manager of Enterprise Ireland’s Food Division, said: “A key objective for Enterprise Ireland is attracting Food Foreign Direct Investment Projects into Ireland. Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Rasim Selçuk over the last three years and we are delighted that the outcome is this new, state-of-the-art pet food manufacturing plant in Westport. This is a great example of how a rural location like Westport can become home to a new business with the drive, commitment and global ambition to create 15 local jobs within two years. Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working with Irish Pet Foods to help them scale their business, sustaining and creating jobs in Ireland.”
Mr Selçuk’s family have been in the feedmill industry since the 1960s when his father started the business in their hometown of Kirsehir in central Turkey. This general animal feed (cattle and poultry) factory was one of the first in the country. Mr Selçuk, whose background is in aeronautical engineering, joined the family business and soon began developing feedmill machinery. He opened a manufacturing plant in Izmir from where he supplies machinery to 20 countries including Ireland under the name Feedtech Machinery Ltd. Rasim Selçuk made his first foray into the pet food sector in 2008.
