ABP Beef agrees supply deal with Carrefour Italia
The agreement follows a successful trial period at 40 stores earlier this year, with the announcement made at a signing ceremony at Carrefour’s flagship store in Milan.
It was attended by Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, Carrefour Italia Commercial director Gregoire Kaufman, and ABP Ireland managing director Finbarr McDonnell.
McDonnell said: "Our partnership with Carrefour Italia is confirmation of the demand for premium Irish heifer and steer beef in European markets. We are delighted to see that the continuing synergy between ABP and Irish Hereford Prime has led to the first Irish branded beef product on Italian retail shelves."
Gregoire Kaufman, commercial director, Carrefour Italia, said: "We have built our success on providing our customers with high-quality fresh products, and are delighted with this exclusive partnership with ABP to provide Irish Hereford Prime beef in our stores."
In September last year, Irish Hereford Prime launched the Hereford Chef’s Club in Italy, which boasts 12 Michelin-star restaurants amongst its members. It has been working with ABP since 1997 to promote the sale and export of the Irish Hereford Prime breed.
According to data from the Central Statistics Office Ireland, the value of exports of Irish beef to Italy stood at €126m in the first 10 months of 2013.
In December last year ABP Food Group revealed it had acquired a second production unit in Western Poland as part of its expansion in the country.
