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With a strong export market and an extra 100,000 cattle now being slaughtered in Ireland as a result of the increase in dairy beef, it is no surprise there has been a surge in jobs in the industry, with over 790 new jobs created, as well as 226 replacement roles filled.
However, it has not all been plain sailing. Brexit has loomed large and the sector is subject to volatility.
Prices have been strong to date, but are now falling. The forecasts for 2018 will be interesting.
Kepak
Kepak has had a real employment drive this year, with 291 new staff hired in 2017, aided by acquisitions in 2016 and the expansion of the McCarren Meats processing facility in Cavan.
These 291 jobs were created across a number of areas, including production, administration and management.
Kepak is also expecting to employ a further 150 new people in 2018, bringing its total payroll to almost 3,400.
Located in 12 plants in Ireland and the UK, the processor has an annual turnover of almost €1bn.
Dawn Meats
Dawn Meats has also seen an increase in positions this year. It created 182 new roles in 2017, beating last year’s total of 121 new jobs.
Of these 182, 147 are skilled operatives and 35 are new appointments in operations, administration, sales, HR, finance, product development, quality and technical.
Thirty graduate positions were also filled by the company, 15 more than last year.
The company now employs 2,188 people and when the merger with Dunbia is complete, the new entity will employ 7,218 people in total.
Liffey Meats
Cavan-based Liffey Meats had a fruitful year, filling 21 new roles. In addition, 49 replacement roles were filled. The company also took on six graduates.
Dawn Farm Foods
Dawn Farm Foods, located in Naas, launched its graduate programme this year, taking on 14 grads as well as 14 student placements. The company is the main supplier of meat for Subway.
Graduate name: Eva McHugh
Company: Dawn Farm Foods
Official role: Quality assurance graduate
I have my family to thank for my love of the Irish food industry, which developed from an early age when I would help my family on the dairy farm in Limerick. My uncle also runs a butcher’s in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
I brought this childhood passion with me into university when I went to study food science in UCD, with a final year specialisation in meat products and meat quality.
I am passionate about the Irish food industry and its importance to the Irish economy
I choose the Dawn Farm Foods Graduate Programme because it gave me an opportunity to work in a leading Irish food company who supplies some of the world’s biggest food brands with quality cooked and fermented meat ingredients.
Eva McHugh
Dawn Farm Foods also takes an enhanced approach to food safety and quality. This approach is called FOOD PLUS + and I knew I would have a great learning experience working in a company that puts food quality and safety at the core of its business.
So far, the graduate programme has been very enjoyable because I am given responsibility in my role which allows me to develop communication and leadership skills. There are also many training and development initiatives as part of the programme, such as Lean training and an IBEC management course, along with personal projects and initiatives.
In terms of my career development, I hope to develop my role within Dawn Farm Foods as not only does it offer me continued career development, but it is also a great place to work with a real team mentality.
Looking further to the future, I would hope to achieve further specialisation within food quality and safety by pursuing a masters degree and ultimately holding a senior management role within a leading Irish food company.
I am passionate about the Irish food industry and its importance to the Irish economy and I hope my future plays a part in its continued success.
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