ABP confirms first US beef deal

By Georgi Gyton

- Last updated on GMT

The deal is estimated to be worth up to €15 million per year
The deal is estimated to be worth up to €15 million per year

Related tags Abp food group Food Restaurant Beef

Irish meat giant ABP Food Group has confirmed it is the first European company to agree a supply deal for beef to the US, since the lifting of the BSE-related ban last March.

When fully realised, the deal has been estimated at a value of up to €15 million per year, with the first supplies to commence in March.

In January, Ireland became the first European member state to obtain access to the US for its beef.

GlobalMeatNews ​previously reported that ABP had been in talks to export Irish beef to the US, but it had remained quiet as to the specifics of any deal.

It has now confirmed that it has agreed to supply beef to Sysco Metro New York and Sysco Boston – a company which specialises in the selling, marketing and distribution of food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, for example – with an initial focus on steak houses and restaurants in those markets.

The relationship between ABP and the US distribution centres was facilitated by Ireland-based foodservice provider Pallas Foods – a subsidiary of Sysco Corporation. 

Paul Finnerty, chief executive of ABP Food Group, said: "We look forward to developing and growing our partnership with Sysco, which will be key in helping us bring our sustainable, grass-fed, hormone-free Irish beef to the plates of US consumers.

"Our initial focus will be on the north-eastern region of the US, where we will concentrate on establishing Irish beef in a sustainable and measured way."

Irish minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney, confirmed the deal represented the first sale of Irish beef into the US since the country regained access to the market.

"ABP can be very proud to be the first European company selling beef into the US in 15 years and I would congratulate Pallas Foods also on their role in this,"​ he added.

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