Processor ABP Food Group has announced that it is the first Irish beef processor to launch in the South Korean market.
ABP has already delivered three shipments from its locations in Monaghan, Tipperary and Wexford as an export agreement with South Korean meat importer K Meat was reached.
The official announcement will be made as part of a trade mission to China and South Korea led by Charlie McConalogue T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Minister of State, Martin Heydon T.D.
As part of the first leg of the two-nation trip, members of the Ministerial trade mission joined ABP in China to visit its customer Dalin Rongze, a food service business servicing restaurants in Beijing. It also visited AP Shanghai Food Company Limited in Shanghai, which supplies Fresh Hipo, a grocery retail chain boasting 273 self-operated stores, primarily located in tier-one and tier-two cities in China.
ABP said it had maintained a constant supply of beef to the Chinese market since the lifting of a restriction on Irish beef imports in May 2020, with all of ABP’s seven Irish sites producing beef products for China.
“The launch of Irish beef in Korea is the culmination of years of relationship building with Korean trade supported by significant Government efforts to gain access.”
Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia CEO
Martin McMahon, general manager of ABP international sales at ABP Food Group, said: “Our extended presence in Asia marks a significant step forward for both ABP and the Irish beef sector as a whole. China and South Korea are extremely important markets and there is a great opportunity for quality Irish beef in the food service and retail spaces.
“ABP would like to thank and recognise the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia for their tremendous work in helping to establish and build on this important trade channel. We would encourage continued efforts for further access in both markets.
“We look forward to continuing to build upon our customer relationships in South Korea and China and to further grow this market.”
Jim O’Toole, CEO of Bord Bia, said: “The launch of Irish beef in Korea is the culmination of years of relationship building with Korean trade supported by significant Government efforts to gain access. Since access was achieved four months ago, there has been immediate interest from the Korean trade who recognise that Irish beef offers a premium, grass-fed alternative to their existing portfolio.
“Bord Bia has the in-market expertise to support ABP and other exporters looking to grow their trade in this dynamic market. We will present a valuable insight study on beef conducted with Korean consumers to better understand their taste preferences. We look forward to fully debriefing Irish beef exporters on this in the coming weeks.”
