Northern Ireland based meat processor Dunbia is set announce a significant international investment in the coming days.The Dealer is reliably informed that Dunbia will acquire a shareholding in Dutch based operation Shannon Meats.Shannon Meats supplies Irish beef to the retail and catering trade in the The Netherlands.

Back in February, meat processor Dunbia invested in its Scottish operations and acquired Lynch Quality Meats based in Ayr for an undisclosed sum. That deal brought to 13 the total number of production sites across Britain and Ireland. The group employs over 4,000 people.

During 2014 the group won a number of retail contracts, including sole supply status for Scottish beef, pork and lamb to Sainsbury’s and the Co-operative. Dunbia has experienced significant growth over the past two years. Last year, a long-term deal was secured to supply Sainsbury’s with fresh beef after a £7.5m investment at the former Dairygold site in Felinfach, Wales. The group’s state-of-the-art lamb facility in Llanybydder also underwent a £12m redevelopment in 2012.

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The purchase of two additional pork facilities in Crewe (formerly Heathfield Foods) and Mansfield (formerly G Woods & Sons) strengthened the company’s pork division increasing capacity to source and produce pork.

Dunbia, with roots in Dungannon is now the largest lamb processor in the UK and in 2013, Dunbia was awarded sole supply for lamb with Asda.