Dawn Meats will take full control of Dunbia, following the announcement of Jim Dobson’s retirement.
The Dunbia business was jointly established in 2017 after a merger of their combined operations.
Jim Dobson OBE co-founded Dunbia with his brother Jack in 1976, and together, they grew it into one of Northern Ireland’s largest private companies exporting to 36 countries.
The business in the UK will continue to trade under the Dunbia brand, offering customers regionally sourced solutions for both beef and lamb from 12 facilities across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the statement added.
Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats, commented: “Combining our operations in the UK has been a strategic success based on a strong cultural fit between two family-owned businesses.”
“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 suppliers.”
12 facilities
Dunbia’s Jim 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 I feel confident that they are well-placed to build on all our past achievements together.”
1 million cattle and 3 million sheep
The merger will mean Dawn Meats now processes around one million cattle and three million sheep annually in both the UK and Ireland.
It will now employ over 7,000 staff and work with over 30,000 suppliers, according to the statement from the meat processor.
