“Tipperary-Based Food Company, The Lunch Bag, to Create 240 Full-Time Jobs in €7.5 Million Production Facility Expansion”
The Lunch Bag, a food company headquartered in Tipperary specialising in school meals, is set to expand its Nenagh production facility, announcing the creation of 240 full-time jobs. This €7.5 million investment aims to significantly enhance the company’s operations, enabling it to triple its business capacity and deliver up to 100,000 school meals daily to educational institutions across Ireland. Presently, The Lunch Bag employs 200 individuals and provides 35,000 school meals daily.
The company attributes its expansion plans to the recent government budget announcement, extending the hot school meals scheme to an additional 900 primary schools in Ireland.
Geraldine Killian, Managing Director of The Lunch Bag, highlighted the diverse range of job opportunities this expansion would offer, stating, “It’s a substantial undertaking, and our expansion will involve the recruitment of various roles, including general operatives, HR and administrative staff, logistics personnel, and van drivers. Additionally, we will create 450 part-time positions for on-site school roles, catering to parents seeking work during school hours.”
Founded in 2019, The Lunch Bag has experienced rapid growth, primarily driven by the state’s free school meals program. Initially launched as a pilot scheme four years ago involving just 30 schools, it has since expanded nationwide to serve 1,700 primary schools, benefiting approximately 300,000 children. The cost of this programme to the state amounts to nearly €95 million.
In 2024, the government plans to further expand the scheme, encompassing an additional 900 non-DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools, offering meals to an extra 150,000 children.
The Lunch Bag focuses on providing nutritionally balanced meals for children, including their recommended “five a day,” often cleverly incorporated into the dishes to cater to fussy eaters. The company offers a wide variety of options, ranging from pastas, curries, and roast meat dishes to vegetarian meals and healthy snacks with fruit.
Geraldine Killian emphasised the significant impact on childhood nutrition, with a minimum of 65,000 children daily benefiting from hot, nutritious, and tasty meals delivered to their school desks.
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