Good Herdsmen, Ireland’s largest organic meat processor owned by Larry Goodman’s ABP, made profits of €207,000 for the year ended 2 April 2017. Net assets at the company increased by €200,000 to €4.1m. During the year, the company made sales of €1.6m to ABP, down from €1.9m the previous year.

ABP is now a majority shareholder in Goodherdsmen, while John Purcell, the company's founder, continues to hold a significant shareholding in the business. ABP had already acquired a 50% stake in the Co Tipperary business a number of years earlier.

The company operates a processing plant in Cahir and sells organic beef and sheep products to grocery retailers and industrial processors in Ireland and abroad.

It is the largest exporter of Irish organic meat, selling in six countries including Germany and France. It slaughters some 6,000 cattle from certified organic farms every year.

In December 2015, ABP Food Group acquired a 50% stake in Slaney Foods, the parent company of Slaney Meats and Irish Country Meats. It also took a 50% stake in Linden Foods, another stakeholder in Slaney, last year.

Goodman's organic Good Herdsman sees growth

After taking full control of Good Herdsman last year, the company has reported solid results for 2017.