Beef merger not notified or referred to CCPC

The proposed transaction between ABP Food Group and Slaney Foods has not been notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), nor has it been referred for examination, according to a clarification from the CCPC, following our article last week.

Meanwhile, an IFA rally has been organised at the Slaney Meats plant at Bunclody, Co Wexford next Sunday (February 7) to highlight price and competition issues in the beef sector.

IFA national livestock chairman Henry Burns said cattle and sheep farmers have real fears and concerns around competition and dominance in processing and rendering.

He said the ABP/Slaney transaction could give ABP effective control of 29% of the beef kill and 40% of lamb processing.