Lakeland moving HQ to former Quinn offices

Lakeland Dairies is set to establish a new corporate hub in Cavan Town at the former landmark Quinn Direct offices, after it purchased part of the N3 office site for an “undisclosed sum”.

The bluechip agri-food processing business, which exports value added products to 80 countries around the world, last month finalised a deal for the eye-catching front-facing building. The property, which already changed hands once this year, also previously housed part of Liberty Insurance empire.
A spokesperson for Lakeland, who will begin moving staff to the new location in late Spring 2018, stated that the move represented “extremely good value when compared with a new build price”.
Once the Lakeland branding is erected, it will be the third branding to appear outside the prominent Cavan Town business site in the past five years. Liberty, it’s understood, will still retain its Cavan HQ presence at the building to the rear of the expansive property.
The spokesperson for Lakeland stated the investment “comes at a great time”, and serves as “a major strategic advantage as we drive the business through our 2017-21 five-year growth plan”.
The building will house Lakeland’s staff operating in the corporate central functions of Finance, IT and Human Resources. It is currently being prepared for full office fit-out, including connection to the Lakeland Information Technology network, as well as the installation of a new Enterprise and Resource Planning System.
The offices, as stands, are modern with state-of-the-art connectivity, of significant benefit to Lakeland, which currently employs over 750 people across a number of sites.
Only a “small number” of staff will move to the new site initially, with the spokesperson clarifying that the Cavan Town office decision “does not involve new jobs”.
Chief Executive of Lakeland Dairies, Michael Hanley also spoke to The Anglo-Celt about the deal to acquire the iconic premises.
One of the key attractions its understood is the location of the property on the N3, and its proximity to links with Dublin, Belfast in the context of Brexit, and other major urban centres. It’s expected the site will serve as a meeting place for Lakeland hierarchy and potential clients to thrash out future business deals.
“Business at Lakeland has grown substantially and has doubled over the last seven or eight years. The business continues to grow year on year,” explained Mr Hanley.
When asked what Lakeland intend to do with the space set to remain vacant in the large complex, Mr Hanley replied: “It is a valuable space and property – it affords us a lot of options in the business.”
In relation to the whole Brexit saga, he added: “We are delighted that there is going to be no hard Border. It is agreed by all parties that that there won’t be a hard Border – that is fantastic news for Lakeland Dairies, farmers, customers, staff, milk suppliers, both North and South.”