According to documents released by the US Department of Agriculture last week, Dawn’s factory in Charleville, Co Cork has now joined ABP Clones among plants eligible to export meat to the US.

Other companies including Slaney, Kepak and a second ABP plant are waiting for approval, which is thought to be imminent.

As more Irish companies get approved, it will mean more exports – but only of hindquarter cuts, which is a very limited business. The big prize is manufacturing beef, which remains a work in progress.

French joint venture

On Thursday, Dawn also notified the European Commission of its planned investment in the French beef processor Elivia, as required by the EU Merger Regulation.

The Commission has until 2 July to give the transaction the green light, or slate it for further investigation on competition grounds.

Elivia, a subsidiary of the Terrena co-op, is France’s second largest processor of consumer meat products. Its business includes a small pork division.

Terrena has been streamlining Elivia’s company structures since striking a joint-venture agreement with Dawn Meats last November, according to documents filed by the French co-op.

Terrena proceeded to a €30 million capital increase at Elivia last Christmas – net of €8 million in losses accumulated in previous years – ostensibly in preparation for Dawn’s investment. Elivia has since been merging subsidiaries controlling various factories in an effort to simplify its organisation and cut costs.

Dawn’s chief executive Niall Browne and his brother Paddy, European sales director, are in France attending Terrena’s innovation show “Les Terrenales” this Friday. “We’re here to share knowledge and to understand what the differences are between innovative thinking in France and in Ireland, and to continue to look for innovation to improve profitability for all,” Niall Browne said at the event – with translation into perfect French provided by his brother.