Largo Foods takes on extra workers

Largo Foods in Ashbourne has taken on a further 36 workers at its Kilbrew plant and expects to create up to another 80 jobs by next summer with its new 'Tayto Fun Park'. There are currently 562 employed in the plant outside Ashbourne. The manufacturers of Tayto and Hunky Dory crisps have reported an 11 per cent increase in sales of Hunky Dory crisps following their recent controversial advertising campaign, which featured rugby-playing models and have now introduced new weekend shifts at the Meath plant, increasing the workforce by 36. Meanwhile, the company is planning to open the Tayto Park, a fun park with a visitor centre, lakes, an Indian Village, children's playgrounds and other attractions in September. Chief executive Raymond Coyle said that 35 jobs would be created at the Tayto Park when it opened and this was expected to rise to 80 in the peak summer months next year. The park will feature a fairytale-style visitor centre with a dramatic entrance hall, two restaurants and a shop in a landscaped setting with lakes and fountains. It will also feature an Indian village with six teepees, each painted in the colours of a specific native American tribe. There will be several play areas, including one for the very young, and another more adventurous one for 12 to 18 year-olds. There will be a treehouse area with one treehouse able to accommodate up to 70 people and walkways through the trees to other houses. The centre will also feature an area dedicated to North American animals, including a lynx, mountain lion, birds of prey and up to 16 different species. There will be a section with rare small animals, including rabbits, hens and pheasants and an area with unusual farm animals, including dwarf cattle, Manx and Jacob sheep, rare donkeys, goats and ponies which would have been used in the pits years ago. Visitors will also get a chance to see the American bison herd at Kilbrew which Mr Coyle introduced to the area many years ago. Mr Coyle said he is hoping to attract 150,000 visitors to the centre each year, which would also provide a valuable spin-off to the Ashbourne area generally. The Tayto Park represents an investment of almost €8 million in the facility, which is expected to open on a year-round basis.