Dunbia, the Northern Ireland-based meat processor, is to invest £27m (€36m) to increase export potential.

The investment, which will be made over the next three years, will create an “intelligent” boning hall and upgrade production lines to increase output and support export growth.

The new boning hall will increase butchery efficiencies and economies of scale, while the installation of new production lines using the most modern automated retail butchery will increase retail packing efficiencies.

Founded in 1976 by brothers Jim and Jack Dobson, Dunbia employs about 4,000 people over 13 sites and specializes in the production of beef, pork and lamb. It processes on average 300,000 cattle every year.

The Dungannon facility employs almost 1,000 people. This investment is backed by a £2m support from Invest NI and will create 209 additional jobs.