The ABP takeover of Slaney Foods was approved last week and the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) has expressed its concern over the deal. However, the body added that the sector should be able to deal with the any fallout as a result of the deal.

“ABP Slaney is of course of some concern to our IOFGA organic farmers, but there are new players showing huge potential. Anglo East, with Five Valley Chilling, is a recent business which has introduced an organic range and has plans to significantly increase its supply. The organic sector also has a lot of smaller processors that concentrate on local supply, that helps to remove the vulnerability of monopolies,” said IOFGA general manager Gillian Westbrook.

The European Competition authority’s decision to allow the takeover to go ahead has not been popular with farm organisations or some Irish MEPs either.

The largest processor of organic beef in Ireland is Good Herdsman, which is owned by ABP. Slaney Foods is currently the second largest. However, it is not complete doom and gloom for organic farmers as there are new players in the market showing potential.

Interest

According to Westbrook, an increase in supply of organic beef has led to more interest from processors due to the continuity of supply.

“IOFGA has recently been contacted by buyers on mainland Europe with very specific product specifications and we’ve wasted no time in putting them in contact with producers who can meet the exact criteria,” she said. “As the biggest organic certification body, we are very aware that we don’t let any business pass us by, large or small, it’s all equally important.”

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Organic farming