Northern Ireland-High praise for Dnbia Meats.
NORTHERN IRELAND-HIGH PRAISE FOR DUNBIA MEATS.
The purchase of Stevenson’s and Company in Cullybackey by Dunbia, the leading and respected supplier of top quality, beef, lamb and pork products, has saved more than 100 jobs - and will create 70 new ones.
On Monday the employees were working flat out on a new contract the company has acquired from Sainsbury’s.
Jim Dobson, Dunbia Managing Director, said they were delighted to have acquired the company.
"We have been looking at the pork sector for some time and acquiring the Stevenson’s facility with it’s skilled workforce, loyal farmer supply chain and industry reputation, gives us a strong trading base" he told the Guardian.
"This is a double win for Northern Ireland not only securing the jobs at Stevenson’s but providing a secure market for NI pig producers".
Stevenson’s and Co, which has been in business for more than 150 years announced proposals to close in October 2008.
Dunbia , founded in 1976 as a small butchers shop in County Tyrone, stepped in and acquired the business.
The multi-million pound venture will also create up to 70 new jobs and boost existing pork production.
Dunbia won a contract to supply a full range of fresh pork products to Sainsbury’s stores throughout Northern Ireland and the UK.
The new contract will be processed from the Stevenson’s facility at Cullybackey and Dunbia’s existing Dungannon facility.
DUP MLA for North Antrim Ian Paisley Jnr welcomes the acquisition by Dunbia of Stevenson & Co in Cullybackey.
"Stevenson & Co have a very long history in the North Antrim area, and the news last October that the plants future was in jeopardy was a massive blow to the local economy," he said.
"But the announcement that the plant has been taken over by Dunbia is obviously particularly good news for the workforce of the plant itself but also for pig producers who will continue to have an outlet for their produce."
The MLA said in the present climate everyone is particularly concerned about job prospects - "So it is particularly welcome that the contract to supply pork products to Sainsburys stores will mean the prospect of up to 70 new jobs as processing takes place in both Cullybackey and Dungannon," he said.
Mr. Paisley said there is no doubt that the skills of the workforce at Stevensons was a particular attraction for any buyer given the history of the company.
"This is a good news story not just for North Antrim in particular but will have resonance right across Northern Ireland," he said.
Dunbia is still a family owned business but has since developed to become a multi-national enterprise with operational sites in every region throughout the UK and Ireland.
Its headquarters are at Granville Industrial Estate in Dungannon where it is a main employer in the food industry in the Province with a workforce of over 750.
Its facilities in Northern Ireland supply top quality red meat produce to some of the leading UK multiples as well as several hotel chains and other foodservice outlets, winning several top industry awards, including Best Beef Product as the prestigious Supermeat and Fish Awards last year.
