Double for Northern Ireland's Dunbia in top awards

Dunbia, Northern Ireland's biggest beef, lamb and pork processor, has won two major awards in the prestigious Meat Management Industry Awards at a gala event in London.

The company, headquartered at Dungannon in county Tyrone, gained the Meat Manufacturer of the Year and its Preston plant was named Asda Butcher's Selection Welsh Lamb Carvery Roasting Joint in the awards.

Jim Dobson, Dunbia managing director, commenting of the double success, says: "It's a real honour to be recognised for the hard work and commitment that goes into sourcing, producing and distributing quality meat products for a range of customers.

"We have a fantastic workforce and these awards are testament to their continued efforts in making sure Dunbia is 'noticeably better'."

The annual Meat Management Industry Awards sets an established benchmark for recognising excellence throughout the meat industry, not just in one narrow sector.

Included is the prestigious 'Excellence Award' recognising an individual's contribution to the industry. The awards are supported by many of the major players in the market and the dinner in London is a highlight in the meat industry calendar.

Dunbia has 10 sites and sales offices throughout Europe. The company, formed in 1976 by brothers Jim and Jack Dobson, employs 3,200 people across a wide range of disciplines.

The family-owned and managedemploys around 1,000 in Northern Ireland, mostly in Dungannon, and is now one of Northern Ireland's biggest employers. It also has a pork processing plant near Ballymena.

The company supplies beef, lamb and pork products to local, national and international markets including the majority of the leading UK multiples. It exports a range of products to customers in more than 15 countries.