120 jobs to be created at Ballyconnell factory

€12.5m investment in extending Ballyconnell site

Crust & Crumb is to double the size of its production facility in Ballyconnell, creating 120 new jobs in the proces, to allow the local busines to grow to support its continued expansion with Tesco Ireland.

The new €12.5m production facility in Ballyconnell will increase the site capacity from 40,000 to 80,000 sq. foot and will allow it to diversify and expand its range of products to include five new premium pizza varieties it has recently created for Tesco.

282 people are currently employed at Cavan facility, with a further 120 jobs to be added once the new build has completed later this year.

Crust & Crumb is now Ireland’s largest manufacturer of ambient, chilled, and frozen commercial and gluten free dough-based products.

The partnership between Tesco and Crust & Crumb began five years ago when the retailer looked to bring production of its pizza range to Ireland, and continues to flourish, with a 35% year-on-year volume growth in 2024 and an annual contract now worth over €10 million.

The multi award-winning pizza maker currently makes 30 different varieties of pizza for Tesco with 5 new premium pizza lines landing on shelves in recent weeks.

Joe Manning, Commercial Director at Tesco, commented: "The partnership with Crust & Crumb highlights Tesco's long-standing commitment to supporting Irish suppliers and helping to grow jobs in local communities. The quality of the products that Crust & Crumb produce for us means we can ensure that our customers have access to the finest premium products, made locally.”

Mark McCaffrey CEO, Crust & Crumb added: "The relationship with Tesco has grown from strength to strength over the past five years. The support from retailers like Tesco enables us to make the necessary investments needed to expand and grow. Brexit presented many challenges as we know but also offered some great opportunities to home-grown Irish suppliers like ourselves."

This partnership highlights Tesco's dedication to championing Irish producers, supporting local economies, and delivering exceptional products to its customers.

Tesco is one of Ireland’s largest grocery retailers having operated in the Irish retail market since 1997. The retailer has 183 stores nationwide, and recently took over the former McEvoy's SuperValu in Virginia.

Tesco is the single largest retail buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, buying €1.6 billion a year, more than any other single country in the European Union.