Food firms drive Northern Ireland economy

Almost a quarter of the companies listed in Northern Ireland's Top 100 are from the agri-food industry. The latest survey of top companies, compiled by Dun and Bradstreet for Ulster Business magazine, one of the region's main business publications, lists 24 agri-food companies in the Top 100.

The report is a further indication of the strength of the agri-food industry and specifically food processing to the Northern Ireland economy, generating around £5 billion every year and employing over 22,000 people.

Poultry processor Moy Park in Northern Ireland's top company and only one with a turnover in excess of £1 billion. Moy Park, headquartered at Craigavon, county Armagh, is also one of Northern Ireland's biggest employers and leading exporters.

Moy Park leads two other agri-food companies in the top three - Dunbia in Dungannon, county Tyrone, one of the UK's biggest meat processors is at three behind Belfast's W&R Barnett, a group with interests in animal feed processing.

Seven companies in the top 20 are from the industry and include Fane Valley Co-operative of Moira, county Down, a farmers' co-operative with interests in meat processing, feed production, farm supplies and milling porridge oats, Dale Farm, Northern Ireland's biggest dairy processor, as well as food wholesalers Henderson Group of Newtownabbey, county Antrim and Belfast-based SHS Group.

Other processors in the Top 100 include Foyle Foods of Derry, county Down, Coca Cola, based in Lisburn, county Antrim, Tayto Group of Tandragee, county Armagh, Old Bushmills Distillery of county Antrim, Diageo of Newtownabbey, county Antrim, where 60 percent of the Baileys Cream Liqueur in produced, and pork producer Cranswick Country Foods in Ballymena.