Co Tyrone Meat Firm Dunbia in Joint Venture with Dawn Meats

Co Tyrone meat firm Dunbia is coming together with Irish firm Dawn Meats in a new joint venture.

Dawn Meats has agreed a strategic partnership with Dungannon firm Dunbia to establish a majority owned joint venture in the United Kingdom comprising the UK operations of both organisations, it has been announced. Dawn will separately acquire Dunbia’s operations in the Republic of Ireland.

The deal is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

In the Republic, Dawn Meats will have nine facilities (including five abattoirs), following the addition of two complementary Dunbia facilities.

The combined UK businesses will trade as Dunbia and will deliver enhanced scale and market presence to better serve existing farmer suppliers and customers of both organisations across the retail, manufacturing, wholesale and food service sectors.

Dunbia’s chief executive Jim Dobson will be chief of the new Dunbia JV, and Dawn Meats chief Niall Browne, will be executive chairman. The joint venture will be run from Dunbia’s existing headquarters in Dungannon, Northern Ireland.

Jim Dobson of Dunbia said: “This is the right strategic partnership for Dunbia’s staff and customers, and sees us joining with a company with a shared heritage of excellence in the production of premium beef and lamb products. The new UK joint venture confirms our future as a leading supplier in the UK market. In a consolidating industry this deal makes strategic sense for both companies, our customers and our farmer suppliers.”

Source: belfasttelegraph.co.uk