Electronic cigarette company Ros Dumhach Cógaisíochta Teo (trading as Rossport Pharmaceutical ) announced this week that it is to create 138 jobs at a new €5.2 million production site to be based in Corr na Móna, Co Galway, with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Founded by Brian Geraghty in 2007 Rossport Pharmaceutical, which started out as a stall in St George’s Market in Belfast, currently employs 80 people and makes electronic cigarettes as well as liquids and nicotine-containing products that are used as alternatives to smoking. It has a sister company that operates an e-cigarette retail business with 20 stores across the country.
The new jobs at Corr na Móna will support the company’s operations across Ireland and Europe where Rossport is already a leading producer and distributer of the Nicofresh brand of electronic cigarettes, e-liquids, and nicotine containing products (NCP ). Recruitment for the jobs is already under way with job opportunities in marketing, R&D, production, and pharmaceutical roles.
Brian Geraghty, managing director of Rossport, said: “Nicofresh has been supplying quality electronic cigarette products to the European market since 2007. On-shoring the production stage will allow Rossport Pharmaceutical to ensure consistent quality control of its products, expand the company’s offering in a rapidly developing marketplace, and provide local employment.”
Steve Ó Cúláin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta said the authority was pleased to be in a position to support and facilitate the company’s development plans. He said: “This company is already well placed in the market, and has grown from strength to strength since the business was established in 2007. The employment opportunities that this venture will generate are crucial to Corr na Móna and the surrounding Gaeltacht area.”
Production director, Tony Geraghty, acknowledged the support from Údarás na Gaeltachta stating: “The provision by Údarás of a modern, ready-to-occupy, facility, has allowed us to undertake our expansion plans in Corr na Móna. Our goal is to produce a consistently high quality product in Ireland, in a purpose built cleanroom facility, for export across Europe, and this will ensure the development and growth of our business into the future. We are seeking to recruit graduate pharmaceutical, R&D, production, marketing, logistics roles at this site in the coming months.”
Rossport Pharmaceutical says it plans to further its expansion in the coming 18 months as there is a growing market across Europe for its products.
