DUP and Sainsbury's in jobs talks

The company lost a major order to supply beef

A DUP delegation has met the chief executive of Sainsbury's over job fears at a Northern Ireland meat plant.

Four members of the party held discussions with supermarket chief Justin King at its London headquarters on Wednesday.

They focused on the grocery giant's decision to discontinue major contracts with Dungannon Meats.

The delegation was also expected to discuss the sourcing by Sainsbury's of produce from Northern Ireland.

Dungannon Meats in County Tyrone has been battling to overcome the loss of a major order to supply 40% of Sainsbury's fresh beef products.

Last month, it began a consultation process which is expected to result in about 200 job losses.

Dungannon Meats employs 1,900 people in nine plants in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

Bear the brunt

Almost 1,000 people are employed in Northern Ireland at its abattoirs at Dungannon and Ballymena and at its high-tech beef packing plant at Granville Industrial Park in Dungannon.

It is the retail packing plant at Dungannon which looks set to bear the brunt of the job losses.

DUP delegation will meet Sainsbury's chief Justin King

Dungannon Meats said the loss of the Sainsbury's business was a "major blow".

The company launched a major sales drive to try to replace the Sainsbury's business but it has proved difficult to fill the gap left by such a big order.

Dungannon Meats continues to be the major supplier of lamb and lamb products to Sainsbury's.

The delegation which met the Sainsbury's chief included MEP Jim Allister, party leader Ian Paisley, deputy leader Peter Robinson and assembly member Arlene Foster.

A Sainbury's spokesman said: "We recognise the importance of this issue to Northern Ireland and are happy to meet with the DUP.

"We have been in dialogue with them to discuss our new beef supply arrangements and this is in fact the second time we have met with them in recent months."

"Also, I would like to add that our new supplier, ABP, is the biggest producer group in Northern Ireland and already there are 2,700 Northern Ireland beef suppliers in the ABP/Sainsbury's Partnership Group."