Kerry Bio-Science

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by: Tyler Murphy

In 2007, Kerry Bio-Science experienced a remarkably good year of distribution growth. Kerry’s site manager Phil Ham reported that the company nearly doubled its global presence as a leading producer of pharmaceutical-grade monohydrate lactose.

The company produces specialized food ingredients such as inert additives, time release coatings and flavorings.

Kerry continues to utilize its enterprising resource planning or ERP system. The diverse communications system plays a vital role from the raw material receipt and release, to the final shipping of finished product.

The company also made strides in diversifying its portfolio by increasing the number of materials it can offer to its commercial customers.

“It helps our presence by making us a one-stop shopping venue,” said Ham.

Ham explained that the company can fulfill a more lateral range of needs a customer may have.

“If they can get everything they need from just one source instead of going to two or three others, it saves costs. It makes the whole process more efficient and convenient for the customer,” said Ham.

Kerry Bio-Science is one of the largest suppliers of pharmaceutical-grade lactose in the United States. The material is a common component used in the direct compression of tablets. Often the lactose serves as a inert filler in countless products made in the pharmaceutical industry.

The company has become an expert in producing highly specialized growth media. The media is used by pharmaceutical companies to foster specific growths which are then harvested for whatever contributions they may offer to the production of complex drug ingredients or for testing.

The plant also specializes in manufacture of hydrolyzed proteins, yeast, lactose, hydrocolloids, fermented ingredients, enzymes and emulsifiers.

This positive growth has caused a 10 percent plus increase in the number of employees at the site. More than a third of those employed at the site hold either a bachelor’s of science or more advance degrees in the field.

“We have a very educated workforce. There is half production and half technical, and the majority have college degrees of some kind,” Ham said.

Ham explained that the pharmaceutical market for produced ingredients is growing rapidly and demand on the site has increased.

Kerry Bio-Science is an international company based in Ireland. The manufacturing facility in Norwich is one of 10 plants located around the world. Kerry Bio-Science is its own company, but is owned by the Kerry Corporation which has several other companies bearing the Kerry name.

Executives and administrative officials visit the local plant regularly and credit the facility for its high level of performance. The company is constantly monitored by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agricultural Markets.

In the upcoming year, Ham said the company hopes to keep expanding its diverse selection of products, especially its coating facilities. The process of FDA approval and validation, however, is a long process.

“We’ve been working towards it for a while and you just can’t pinpoint an exact date. Validation can be very tricky process,” said Ham.

The good thing about the process is that although it may be a challenge to get into, once in, it offers a stable and consistent market, Ham said.

The location of the Kerry facility has been occupied and operated by other businesses in the area for more than 100 years. The company began as a dairy creamery in New York City in 1841. The business moved upstate looking for lower cost and more room to expand their operations. Named Sheffield Farms, the business constructed a creamery at the current site in Norwich were it has remained in one form or another ever since.

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