Bioshell to create 20 new jobs in Mayo

Bioshell to create 20 new jobs in north Mayo

Anton McNulty

The village of Carrowtigue in Erris has managed to buck the national trend following the announcement that 20 new jobs will be created by Bioshell a manufacturer of healthcare products.

Bioshell Teoranta has been based in the north Mayo Gaeltacht since 2001 and currently employs 25 people, making a wide range of vitamin and mineral supplements for an international market. The company stated that the recruitment of the new jobs in its bases in Carrowtigue and Belmullet will begin ‘immediately’.

Bioshell Teoranta manufactures a wide range of vitamin and mineral supplement products from its production facility in Carrowtigue on a contract basis for its customers worldwide.  The company, which specialises in the provision of sports nutrition products and traditional herbal medicines, was granted a Manufacturer’s Authorisation by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) last month.

The new certification allows the company to increase its product range and expand into the pharmaceutical market. To facilitate the company’s development and growth, it recently established an additional base in the ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta industrial park in Belmullet to accommodate the warehousing, quality control and administration end of the business.

Bioshell was established in Dublin in 1996 by John Raftery and Reiner Eschwey before they relocated to Mayo in 2001. Speaking at the announcement, Company Director, Reiner Eschway said; “Bioshell is expanding to meet the growth in demand in the sports nutrition and food supplement market. The IMB Manufacturer’s Authorisation enhances the company’s reputation and places us in a more competitive position by allowing us to present our customers further products offerings, quality assurance and traceability of raw materials. 

“The new facility provided by ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta in Belmullet will allow us to undertake our expansion plans and increase production and capacity ensuring that our business can grow into the future.”

The company is currently recruiting eight positions in validation, quality control, IT and production for its bases in Carrowtigue and Belmullet and the remaining positions will be recruited over the next two year period.

Padraig Ó hAolΡin, CEO of Údaras na Gaeltachta said they were pleased to support the new development to the Erris Gaeltacht.

“Bioshell Teo is an excellent example of how a small Irish company with a rural base can be a player in a global market. At a time when businesses around the country are facing tremendous challenges, it is encouraging to see an enterprise that is continuing to grow and expand. ÚdarΡs na Gaeltachta have been working with Bioshell since they first decided to locate to the West of Ireland. We are very pleased to be able to facilitate and support this new development and welcome the 20 new jobs that are being created as a result,” he said.

Jobs a huge boost to Erris

The announcement of the creation of 20 new jobs in Erris was described as a huge boost for for the area and a vote of confidence in the area.

Bioshell, which is based in Carrowtigue has continued to grow since it first opened in 2001 and now employs 25 people with the vast majority being from the immediate locality. Treasa Ní Ghearraigh of Comhar Dún ChaochΡin Teo, the community development co-operative for the Kilcommon parish welcomed the announcement which she said was a huge boost in the current economic environment.

“Bioshell has been a good employer for this area from the outset since it was established and has been creating employment ever since. Twenty additional jobs in the current economic climate is a huge boost and it is very welcome. This will give people who are unemployed to re-skill and get the chance to get full time employment at a time when it is hard to get full time jobs,” she told The Mayo News.

Local councillors, Gerry Coyle and Rose Conway-Walsh also welcomed the news and said it was a huge boost to the community in the run in to Christmas.