It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

Recent investigations into alleged serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations at UK catering butcher Russell Hume saw it lose major contracts with the JD Wetherspoon chain and other high-profile restaurateurs, such as Jamie Oliver.

900 pubs

With almost 900 pubs and 50 hotels, the well-known British-based JD Wetherspoon chain sells a reported 200,000 steaks per week. Dawn/Dunbia is a long-term supplier of meat to the chain and The Dealer understands that the amount of meat it supplies to Wetherspoons has increased in recent weeks – after Wetherspoons cancelled its contract with Russell Hume.

Industry sources say Wetherspoons has yet to decide on its long-term arrangements, but a betting man like myself would wager Dawn/Dunbia is certainly in with a shout.