Northern Ireland agricultural and food company Fane Valley Group is committing £1.1m (approximately €1.3m) to skills development across its business group, in a structured workforce investment programme designed to support its three-year business plan and equip its 1,000-strong workforce to meet evolving customer and sustainability demands.

Invest Northern Ireland reported that the investment covers training across the full Fane Valley Group, which includes Duncrue Food Processors and Fane Valley Feeds, with sites in Belfast, Omagh, Moy, Newry, and Tandragee, along with 17 agri-retail stores across Northern Ireland. The training plan focuses on four capability areas: sales and marketing, leadership, supply chain development, and digital skills.

Founded in 1903 and headquartered in Moira, Co Down, Fane Valley Group is one of Northern Ireland's largest agri-food businesses and employs over 1,000 people across its operations.

Trevor Lockhart, CEO of Fane Valley Group, said the investment reflects the company's long-held view that people capability is central to business performance. He said: "Fane Valley places a strong emphasis on developing its people, recognising that a skilled and knowledgeable workforce is central to our continued success. By investing in employee training, leadership development and professional growth opportunities, we are strengthening our capability to grow our customer base."

Lockhart said the programme is already delivering measurable returns. He said: "This focus on skills development has helped the group improve efficiency, support innovation and adapt to the changing needs of the agri-food sector. Fane Valley's commitment to nurturing talent ensures that employees are equipped with the expertise needed to drive performance, support customers and contribute to our long-term growth and competitiveness."

He also credited Invest NI's involvement in accelerating the programme's delivery. He said: "Working with Invest NI has enabled us to accelerate this programme and ensure our people have the skills needed to support the future growth of the business."

Niall Casey, director of skills and competitiveness at Invest Northern Ireland, said the investment demonstrates the direct link between workforce capability and business resilience. He said: "Investing in the skills of its workforce is essential for any business that wants to grow and stay competitive. By developing the right capabilities, companies can adapt more quickly to change, improve productivity and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth. This is exactly what Fane Valley is doing."

Read the full details of Fane Valley Group's workforce investment announcement.