Plan confirmed for former Snowcream site in Moate

Clearance works continue on the site of the former Snowcream factory in Moate with plans for the opening of a new branch of J Grennan & Sons at the location.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Niall Grennan, Managing Director, J Grennan & Sons, said that it was the long-term ambition of the business, which manufactures and distributes animal feeds and farm fertilisers and agricultural seeds, to open a new branch at the location.

"Those who have passed by the site in recent times will have noticed that it has been cleared with a number of trees felled at the location. Our aim in the long term is to complement our existing seven stores in the Midlands region and open on the site supplying our customers with feed, fertiliser and hardware/agri products.

"This new store, when opened, will provide a similar service as our existing store in the heart of the town, but it will be larger in size and easier to access for our customers. At this time, we have no set date for a new store opening on the site, as we are prioritising our stores in Cloghan and Kilcormac before we turn a specific focus towards our business in Moate," Niall said.

The Snowcream plant in Moate, which later became Dawn Dairies, opened in 1958 and continued to operate until 2001, and has been unoccupied ever since.