Agri-food co-operative Fane Valley Group will spend £1.1m on skills development across its Northern Ireland operations to support delivery of its three-year business plan.

Founded in 1903 and headquartered in Moira, the group has sites in Belfast, Omagh, Moy, Newry and Tandragee, alongside 17 agri-retail stores across Northern Ireland.

The company-wide programme will focus on sales and marketing, leadership capability, supply chain development and digital skills. Training will be delivered across the Fane Valley Group, which includes Duncrue Food Processors and Fane Valley Feeds. Working with Invest Northern Ireland, the business says it will accelerate the roll-out of this initiative. Welcoming the investment while visiting the company's Moira HQ, Niall Casey, Director of Skills and Competitiveness at Invest Northern Ireland, said: "With over 1,000 employees across Northern Ireland, Fane Valley plays a vital role in our regional economy. This investment in skills strengthens the local food and agriculture sector by developing local talent and empowering its workforce to reskill to meet customer demands. It will also support Fane Valley to build the skills needed to lead initiatives such as sustainable practices and improved supply chain traceability, helping the business deliver its ambitious growth plans."

Fane Valley chief executive Trevor Lockhart 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.

"This investment will ensure our teams are equipped to respond to evolving customer demands and increasing sustainability expectations, helping us create a culture of continuous improvement across all areas of the business."

Reflecting on progress to date, he added: "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."