TAYTO MANUFACTURER Largo Foods is to invest up to €2.6 million in its manufacturing facility in Donegal, creating more than 30 jobs over the next 12 months.

The company, which also makes King, Hunky Dorys, Perri and Sam Spudz snack foods, is making the additional investment in the Gaoth Dobhair plant in addition to a €2.2 million investment made in 2010. It could result in 35 extra jobs for the facility, the company said.

Largo Foods recently added a new rice and tortilla-based snack-food manufacturing line to the plant, supplying both the Irish and the British markets.

More than 190 people are employed on a full-time basis the Gaoth Dobhair facility.

Largo chief executive Ray Coyle said the funding would be used for extra capacity and new product development. “Approximately 70 per cent of what Largo Foods makes in Donegal is exported, principally to the UK,” said Mr Coyle.

“Our strategy is to continue to invest in RD and high-value products to allow us to increase efficiencies, sustain and grow the business in Gaoth Dobhair.”

Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley has welcomed the investment.

“The decision taken by the group two years ago to rationalise the business, cut costs and refocus was not an easy one but we see the fruits of that labour here today,” he said.