Irish company closing Lawrence County cheese plant; 66 jobs impacted

Ornua makes several dairy products

Just days before St. Patrick’s Day, sixty-six employees of an international dairy manufacturer based in Ireland learned that the company was shutting down its plant in Lawrence County.

Ornua Ingredients Inc. has filed a notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor that it is closing the facility at 2850 Perry Highway in Slippery Rock Township.

Ornua manufactures and distributes butter, cheese, and other dairy products under the Kerrygold brand.

The Slippery Rock plant is one of six in North America that custom formulates and manufactures pasteurized processed cheese products for food manufacturing and food service customers.

Sixty-six employees will be impacted as the shutdown takes place between late February and late April.