Irish mushroom firm Codd Mushrooms, based in County Carlow, has invested €3 million (£2.7m) in an automated production unit that it claims is the first of its kind in Ireland.
The high-tech facility, based on the Dutch factory model, has replaced the traditional hooped houses the company used to grow mushrooms since its establishment 20 years ago.
From the outside, it looks like a factory, with mushroom rooms set up inside. A woodchip burner provides steam and heating.
Managing director Leslie Codd, joint owner of the business with brother Raymond, said: “The temperature and watering are controlled within each room, and it’s all highly computerised. We have also installed a vacuum cooler that improves product shelf life by two days.”
The company concentrates on the Irish market, avoiding the price problems created by sterling’s slide, and is a major supplier to the Aldi discount chain and to hotels and restaurants across Leinster. Increased demand has led to the expansion, which involved closing down two local operations and building the new facility on a greenfield site outside the Carlow town of Tullow.
The company now expects current turnover of €5.3m to grow to more than €6m this year, and staff numbers have already increased to more than 70. “We might even have a go at the export market sometime in the future,” said Codd.
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