The beef industry in Ireland and the UK is best characterised by its lack of transparency, particularly when it comes to it profitability.

Meat factories regularly claim the sector is low-margin and profits made by processors are not excessive, but without any visibility, how can farmers trust such claims?

However, there are some meat factories which publish detailed financial accounts giving an insight into the profitability of the sector.

Two Northern Ireland companies, Linden Foods and Foyle Food Group, have recently published accounts for their 2019 financial year.

While farmers and factories are often at odds, both Linden and Foyle should be applauded for their commitment to financial transparency. Here, we analyse the financials of both companies and what insights they provide on profits in the sector.