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Kepak Group has been approved to supply, market and distribute Irish beef burgers into the US market.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval was announced on Monday at Anuga, a trade fair for food and beverages in Cologne, Germany.
The agreement secures access for Kepak to the US restaurant burger market, which is currently valued at over $122bn.
The development follows the launch of Kepak’s Celtic Beef Company in the United States in 2017 and it means that Irish beef will be available in the United States in burger form. The burgers will be initially distributed in New York and Boston.
Approval
Kepak Group managing director John Horgan said: “We are delighted to be the first meat processor in Europe to attain USDA approval for the sale of our high-quality value-added beef burger patties into the US market.
"This announcement will see Kepak’s renowned Irish beef burger patties made available in pubs and restaurants from Monaghan to Manhattan and Massachusetts."
It is a testament . . . to the high-quality beef that Irish farmers are world famous for producing
Minister for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle said: “Today’s announcement is most welcome news, particularly for the local community in Monaghan where this meat will be produced.
“It is a testament both to the high-quality beef that Irish farmers are world famous for producing and to the market access work of my Department in co-operation with the US authorities,” he added.
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