Following the retirement of Jim Dobson, Waterford, Ireland-headquartered Dawn Meats has assumed full control of the Dunbia business that was jointly established in 2017, following the merger of their combined operations. The business in the United Kingdom will continue to trade under the Dunbia brand and the same management team, offering customers regionally sourced beef and lamb from 12 processing facilities across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Jim Dobson OBE (pictured at left in photo above) co-founded Tyrone-based Dunbia with his brother Jack in 1976, and together they grew Dunbia into one of Northern Ireland’s largest private companies exporting to 36 countries.
Dawn Meats CEO Niall Browne (at right in photo) stated: “Combining our operations in the UK has been a strategic success based on a strong cultural fit between two family-owned businesses that shared a deep connection to farming and an ethos centered on quality and sustainability. Jim is a legend within our industry and we are proud to maintain the traditions and name he created as we continue to serve our UK customers and farmer suppliers.”
Dobson added: “The creation of the joint venture with Dawn Meats ensured the business would continue to grow as a leading quality meat supplier in the UK market. I want to thank all the team that has worked on the integration and feel confident that they are well-placed to build on all our past achievements together.”
Dawn’s combined businesses in the UK and Ireland now process approximately 1 million cattle and 3 million sheep annually, employing over 7,000 staff, and working with over 30,000 farmer suppliers. The 2017 deal between Dawn Meats and Dunbia also saw Dawn Meats acquire Dunbia’s operations in Ireland, resulting in a total of 10 Dawn Meats facilities.
The company rang up more than €2 billion in turnover last year, exporting products to retail, foodservice and industrial customers in over 50 countries. Its extensive value-added assortment ranges from frozen and chilled burger patties produced using fully traceable grass fed Irish or British beef and lamb, to slow cooked sous vide meats and further processed meatballs, grill steaks, prepared joints and koftas.
