Excellence at Dunbia
April 30, 2010Dunbia (Kilbeggan) is situated in the prime beef producing countryside of Ireland. Formally known as Exel Meats, in 2001, the facility was acquired by Northern Irish Company Dunbia.
The Dunbia Group has ten operational sites throughout the UK and Ireland and employs approximately 3,000 people, making it an established and respected key player in the red meat market, locally, nationally and internationally.
The company was founded in 1976 by brothers Jim and Jack Dobson in Dungannon Co Tyrone and headquarters remain there today. As a result of the company's growth strategy Dunbia now has five sites in Ireland; Kilbeggan, Slane, Maganey and Dungannon and Ballymena in the North.
It was in 2006 when the company re-branded to become Dunbia, the 'Dun' meaning fort and representing where the company was founded in Dungannon, and 'Bia' meaning food. The name represents strong heritage and tradition of supplying excellent quality produce from the best farm assured sources in Ireland and the UK.
Padraig Browne, who is a native of Co Waterford, became General Manager of Dunbia (Ireland) in 2007 and has settled into his position nicely with business currently thriving despite the challenging economic climate.
Padraig explains: "From its Kilbeggan base, Dunbia produces prime Irish beef for mainly export markets, although Irish customers also form part of our ever expanding customer base.
"Our main business is processing beef in the north and in the south," says Padraig. "We have a facility outside Navan where we process fifteen hundred cattle per week and from there the raw material goes to the boning hall in Kilbeggan, which is then sent to customers. Thirty per cent of our business is UK-based and the rest is based throughout Europe in countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Holland, France, Belgium and Scandinavian countries, with some also going to Eastern Europe."
In Kilbeggan, Dunbia has a proud reputation of excellent staff, many of which have been employed there for several years. Dunbia (Kilbeggan) consists of a de-boning operation and its butchers exemplify the age old craft of butchery with skilful and precise knife-work that is said to be "poetry in motion".
Two years ago, the Dunbia Group launched its very own Butchery Academy which develops new apprentices into skilled butchers. The scheme continues to go from strength to strength with many school leavers taking up the opportunity to train for a new and exciting career. On the topic of careers, the Dunbia Group can offer a wide range of career prospects across a range of disciplines including; production, logistics, procurement, sales, marketing, finance, environmental, technical and agriculture.
As part of the company's corporate responsibility it is committed to caring for the environment. A dedicated team ensure that Dunbia's facilities adhere and comply with all environmental legislation, as well as working on projects to reduce water use, electricity and waste.
Another aspect of corporate responsibility is to satisfy external stakeholders including the local community. Dunbia (Kilbeggan) is active in achieving this though organising farm walks, walk the chain days and more recently played host to a group of English beef producers, taking them to Grange Research Farm and Carnaross Mart.
Padraig commented: "This visit proved the perfect platform for the Irish and English farmers to discuss their farming enterprises and take lessons from each other as would happen in other businesses."
More recently, Dunbia opened a factory shop in Kilbeggan which has demonstrated to be a massive hit with the local community, offering top quality meat at very competitive prices.
While the shop has only be open a couple of months, it has already had a consistent increase in demand and the range of meat on offer is set to expand.
Padraig says: "It is our way of giving something back to the community, which has given us so much down the years."
Dunbia provides sponsorship locally in Kilbeggan. One example is the support it has given to the Kilbeggan Racecourse.
In September of last year, Dunbia sponsored a handicap chase over three miles and one furlong worth 16,000 euro. The winning horse was 'Jack Finch' ridden by jockey Andrew McNamara and trained by Edward O'Grady
Staying on community matters, Padraig knows that the continued success of the Gaelic Games is important for so many people in the country, especially in such grim times.
"From our point of view we like to see the GAA doing so well, because a lot of our business would be with farmers across the country, many of whom would be involved with the GAA. So my affiliation would be to see Westmeath doing well," he says.
"Of course, I still support Waterford. It's great to see them doing well in the hurling and now the football as well."
While he admits that he was not the best goalkeeper underage with his home club Modeligo outside Dungarvan, Padraig says that his son Sean, is coming along well at underage level for their local club under a big name coach in the Faithful County.
"The young fella would prefer to see Westmeath winning over Offaly and I'd like to see Westmeath winning as well, if I'm honest," he claims.
"Right now, I'm living straight across the road from the Durrow GAA club grounds in Offaly. My neighbour is Michael Duignan, who used to play for Offaly, and he trains the Durrow Under 12 team that Sean is on at the moment." Tweet
