Trouw Nutrition closes Belfast pre-mix mill, cutting 29 jobs

Trouw Nutrition has permanently closed its Ship Street pre-mix mill in Belfast, ending production at the site on 30 September 2026 and costing 29 jobs, the company confirmed.

The closure had been signalled in May, when the Netherlands-headquartered company announced it would end manufacturing at the facility following a review of its core business functions and customer service structures across the island of Ireland.

Feed products for customers across Ireland will now be sourced from Trouw Nutrition's established facilities in Great Britain and elsewhere in Europe. The company said it will also continue its long-standing partnership with North Down Grain in Newtownards to support local supply in Northern Ireland.

Despite the manufacturing exit, Trouw Nutrition said its broader Irish-market presence remains intact. Its commercial, sales, technical-support, and customer-service teams will continue to operate from the company's headquarters at Clarendon Dock in Belfast.

Bruce Spain, Trouw Nutrition's country manager for the UK and Ireland, acknowledged the disruption caused by the restructuring but stressed the company's ongoing commitment to the region. "I want to be totally clear that Trouw Nutrition is fully committed to the island of Ireland, and the changes we have made only underpin our competitiveness and leading position here," Spain said.

Spain also said the new model would address evolving industry demands. He said the new operating and delivery model would help the company respond to the feed industry's requirements for traceability and compliance while providing a more streamlined and resilient service model.

Trouw Nutrition said it has strengthened its regional commercial and technical capabilities and expanded its local team in recent months. The company operates 71 manufacturing plants and has a presence in 105 countries.