Former Golden Vale headquarters attracts interest from potential buyers

A PROPERTY well known to farmers in south Limerick and north Cork - the ‘red brick building’ in Charleville - has been put for sale.

Formerly the headquarters of Golden Vale, the global multinational Kerry Group has now put the substantial office premises extending to 27,000 sqft (2,529 sqm) on the market.

After Kerry Group acquired Golden Vale at the turn of the century, it became their business services centre.

It was announced in 2021 that a number of staff based in the ‘red brick building’ were being made redundant as Kerry Group “expanded and centralised its shared services, such as finance, human resources and regulatory staff, in teams primarily located in Mexico and Malaysia”.

The property on the Kilmallock Road has now been put up for sale with joint agents Sherry FitzGerald Stephenson Crean in Tralee and Sherry Fitzgerald Walsh in Charleville.

Derry Walsh said it is being guided at €750,000 but “we will exceed the guide price”.

It only went on the market last week but his phone has been hopping and emails pinging.

“There is great interest in it. We have an opening offer received already,” said Mr Walsh.

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Those in touch with the auctioneer include companies considering relocating offices, private investors and developers.

“It is standing on seven acres so there is huge future potential subject to planning for a residential development. It is in a superb, central location on the outskirts of Charleville and between Limerick and Cork,” said Mr Walsh, who adds that it is a rare opportunity to acquire an office premises of this scale.

“It is a fine building - there is 27,000 square feet so it can accommodate a big workforce. It was being used up to last February,” said Mr Walsh.

According to Kerry Group’s preliminary statement of results for the year ending December 31, 2022, it was a year of record growth with group revenue of €8.8 billion reflecting 18% organic growth.

A media query has been submitted to the Kerry Group and a reply is awaited.