As is normal over the first weekend of October every second year, the Irish meat industry has decamped to Cologne in Germany for Anuga, the world’s largest food and drink show.

Historically, Bord Bia co-ordinated the Irish presence at major shows, but, in recent years, this has changed to reflect that two major companies – ABP and Dawn Meats are now very much international.

They have separate large stands of their own, but are located adjacent to Bord Bia and other Irish meat processors in the meat hall. These include Ashbourne Meats, Dawn International, Dawn Farms, Liffey Meats, Kepak group, Prumpelstown Estate, QK Meats and Rosderra Irish Meats.

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The Dawn Meats Group stand is strategically positioned between the Bord Bia stand with other Irish meat companies and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) stand, which has several UK-based processors.

Significant presence

Of course, like ABP, Dawn has a significant presence in the UK, where it trades as Dunbia and there is a dedicated Dunbia location on the AHDB stand.

The Foyle Food Group, which has factories in Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and two in England, is on the AHDB stand, as are pork processors Cranswick and Karro, which both have factories in Northern Ireland.

Hybu Cig Cymru and Quality Meat Scotland, the levy boards in Wales and Scotland, also have stands in the meat hall.

The footprint of Irish dairy companies isn’t as big as that of the meat industry at Anuga, but, in the dairy hall, Bord Bia is joined by Ornua, Tirlán and Kerry Dairy.

Aunga alternates with SIAL, which is held in Paris as the major annual global food and drink show. It occupies a site the size of which is the equivalent of 14 soccer pitches.

All major global food producers are in attendance as well as several small businesses that export.

The Irish Farmers Journal will be reporting from Anuga this week online and in print.