Moy Park named Northern Ireland's top company

Poultry processor Moy Park has been named Northern Ireland's biggest business in a new survey of the Top 100 Companies. Moy Par, which retained this position from last year, recorded profits of almost £34 million - 39 per cent up on the previous year.

Moy Park, headquartered at Craigavon in county Armagh,headed the field with a turnover of £1.2 billion and a payroll of almost 12,000 people. Moy Park was among 20 food and drink companies in the Top 100 listed by the Belfast Telegraph, the region's biggest selling newspaper, reflecting the strength of the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland.

Agri-food is now the UK region's biggest manufacturer, employing 100,000 people across an extensive supply chain. And contributing £4.5 billion to the local economy. The industry is also a key exporter and now a major driver of economic recovery. Turnover is projected to grow to £7.5 billion by 2020.

The industry's strength is also seen in the position of Tesco (NI) as the second listed company - ahead of Bombardier Aerospace.. The top 10 also features ASDA, Sainsbury and Dunbia, the region's biggest processor of beef, pork and lamb. Dunbia had sales last year of £772 million and employed 3,530 people.

The list is the most comprehensive assessment of performance by Northern Ireland companies. Other agri-food businesses in the Top 100 include John Henderson/Spar, Fane Valley, the region's biggest co-operative which owns meat processing businesses Linden Foods and Kettyle Irish Foods and Fane Valley Dairies, a major producer of milk powders and butters for export, and Manderley Food Group, the holding company of Tayto crisps and snack foods.

Dale Farm, Northern Ireland's biggest dairy business, part of the United Dairy Farmers' co-operative, is listed at 51 with a turnover of £418 million, pre-tax profits of £5 million and employing 884 people. Karro Food Group, the biggest pork processor, is at 53 with turnover of £882 million, and Foyle Food Group at 55 with sales of £730 million.

Other food businesses listed in the Top 100 include Coca Cola, SHS Group, the wholesaler and distributor, Hilton Meats (Retail), Diageo (NI) which produces Old Bushmills Whiskey and around 60 per cent of Baileys Original Irish Cream in Northern Ireland, Dairy Produce Packers, a specialist in cheese slices for catering, and animal feed suppliers W&R Barnett, and BHH.

Businesses with an element of food in the list are Dunne's Stores, Herbel Restaurants, owner of the KFC franchise, Hastings Hotels and Andras House Hotels..