The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a second Chinese company is set to open an infant formula manufacturing plant in Ireland. Emerí Nutrition, a company created in March 2017 with an address in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, lodged a planning application with Meath Co Council in late 2017 for the development of a food grade manufacturing facility. The company has two directors, Lu Wang and Ya Luo, with addresses in China and Dublin respectively.

This facility will be located in Navan and the overall investment by Emerí is understood to be in the region of €15m.

In October, the Irish Farmers Journal revealed plans by another Chinese infant nutrition company Newbaze to open an infant formula plant in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. The Newbaze site will initially manufacture up to 5,000t of infant formula for export, with base dairy ingredients and powders sourced from Irish processors and co-ops.

Emerí Nutrition is likely to manufacture and package infant formula under its own brand for export to the lucrative Chinese baby formula market.