US food service giant Sysco to add 50 jobs at Limerick plant

Sysco Ireland CEO Mark Lee

Sarah Collins

The Irish arm of US food giant Sysco intends to create 50 full-time jobs in its new Limerick distribution and support centre.

The firm, which is Ireland’s largest food service provider, said the new roles are the latest phase of its multimillion-euro investment in its facility at Newcastle West.

It will bring the number employed at the plant to more than 400.

Sysco already employs 1,550 people across its nine facilities in Ireland.

Junior Minister and Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan said the investment was “a real boost to the region”.

“It is a welcome and positive injection, delivering significant economic benefits and playing a pivotal role in sustaining our local prosperity.

“The roles will have a significant positive impact on the local economy, further establishing Sysco as one of the largest employers in the area.”

Recruitment for the new roles has already begun, with advertisements for logistics and warehouse managers, supervisors and finance personnel already on the company’s website.

The firm says it offers “competitive salaries, staff discounts, and a wide array of perks” including an onsite gym.

“This investment and job creation programme reinforces our long-standing commitment to Newcastle West and will help us realise our growth ambition countrywide,” said Sysco Ireland chief executive Mark Lee.

“Food distribution is at the heart of what we do but we are fundamentally a people business.”

The firm is currently renovating and refurbishing its Newcastle West site, adding new offices, parking spaces and electric vehicle charging points.

Sysco swung into the black last year with a near €16m profit as pandemic restrictions were lifted. It had made an €8.8m loss in the previous financial year.

Its turnover in the 12 months to July 2022 soared to €459.3m from €248.4m as restaurants and other food outlets fully reopened.

The latest set of accounts for the business show that it received €14.5m in Covid-related grants from the Government in the last financial year, compared with €16.2m in the previous period.

Sysco acquired family-owned Pallas Foods in 2009. The Irish business had been founded by the Geary family in the 1980s.