**Kildare**: Kerry Group has received €7.5 million from Enterprise Ireland to establish a Digital Centre of Excellence, aimed at improving operational efficiencies and customer connectivity, while bolstering the company’s commitment to innovation and technology-led growth.
Kerry Group has secured funding amounting to €7.5 million (approximately US$7.83 million) from Enterprise Ireland for the establishment of a new Digital Centre of Excellence. This initiative is aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies and improving customer connectivity within the company.
The funding underscores Kerry’s ongoing commitment to investment in technology and process improvements as a means of bolstering operational capabilities. Jenny Melia, Executive Director at Enterprise Ireland, articulated this commitment, stating, “This investment is proof of Kerry Group’s commitment to innovation and commercial excellence.” She noted that this funding comes from the Research, Development and Innovation Fund, which is designed to assist large-scale transformation projects that increase competitiveness within firms, thereby reinforcing Ireland’s position as a leader in innovation.
The new centre will be situated within the Kerry Global Innovation Centre in Kildare, and its establishment is expected to significantly enhance business performance and productivity through a series of digital enablement initiatives across operations, research and development, commercial activities, and global business services. Furthermore, it will incorporate advanced generative AI solutions aimed at improving various business processes and fostering stronger customer partnerships.
Over the past 12 to 18 months, Kerry has already piloted several digital initiatives and plans to scale these projects up in the forthcoming years. One notable initiative is the KerryNow customer portal, which provides enhanced functionalities such as order tracking, product portfolio management, and value-added services, including AI-driven new product development and proprietary data utilisation.
Shane McGibney, Chief Business Transformation Officer at Kerry, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “The Digital Centre of Excellence creates exciting opportunities to accelerate our business. The initiative represents a new aspect of transformation at Kerry. We appreciate Enterprise Ireland’s support and the agency’s ongoing engagement with Kerry over many years.”
In related developments, Kerry Group has recently made key appointments to its executive team to sharpen its focus on taste and nutrition solutions. Oliver Kelly has taken up the position of chief commercial officer, overseeing global commercial strategies and customer relations. He is succeeded in the role of president and CEO of Kerry North America by John Cahalane, whilst Peter Dillane has been appointed president and CEO of Kerry APMEA.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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