Irish meat supplier Dawn Meats has agreed a strategic partnership with British meat manufacturer Dunbia to establish a majority-owned joint venture in the UK.
The venture will include both operations in the UK, however, Dawn said it will separately acquire Dunbia’s operations in the Republic of Ireland. The deal is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
The combined UK business will trade as Dunbia and will deliver an '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’.
Strategic Partnership
Dunbia’s CEO Jim Dobson will become the CEO of the new Dunbia joint venture, and Dawn Meats’ CEO Niall Browne will be Executive Chairman. The new business will be run from Dunbia’s existing headquarters in Dungannon, Northern Ireland.
Dobson, CEO 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.”
Future Opportunities
Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats said, “We are both family businesses with a deep connection to farming and a culture and business ethos that is centred on quality and sustainability. Given the uncertainty posed by Brexit, this partnership should further underpin the competitiveness of both operations to the benefit of all stakeholders in the UK, Ireland and across Europe.”
“We are very excited about the future of both companies and the opportunities that this transaction will bring for our staff, customers and suppliers. In our key operating markets we will be involved in three leading national businesses with Dawn Meats in Ireland, Dunbia in the UK and Elivia in France, with our cooperative partners Terrena.”
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
