Enterprise Minister meets with worker representative at Limerick company facing closure

WORKER and union representatives from the Wyeth Nutrition infant formula manufacturing facility in west Limerick have met with Minister Simon Coveney, Limerick Live can reveal. 

A spokesperson for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment confirmed the meeting, saying that he and Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan had “a good and extremely helpful meeting with the group of unions and workers reps from Wyeth.” 

He added: “They will continue to liaise closely in the time ahead.” 

The meeting took place on Friday - six weeks after it was announced by Nestlé that it plans to cease operations in west Limerick by 2026.

Firm’s wind down dubbed a ‘hammer blow’ to Limerick town

Additionally, the co-located research and development centre, which opened in 2019 after a €25m expansion, and employs 51 people, is also proposed to be closed and cease operations by the first quarter of 2025.

The company, known for high-quality infant nutrition products, confirmed last month that it is proposing to transfer the production from Askeaton to two existing factories in Suzhou, Mainland China and Konolfingen, Switzerland.

It's not know what action, if any, Mr Coveney will take following the meeting.