Honoured for commitment to certified Irish Angus beef
THE Irish Angus Producer Group is celebrating a 20-year partnership with Tesco Ireland, the leading retailer for Certified Irish Angus Beef since 1997.
The successful collaboration was marked at an event in Dublin where a number of farmers from around the country, including Una Gallagher from Straide, were honoured for their commitment and dedication to the production of Certified Irish Angus Beef since the brand was developed.
Una is a dairy, beef and tillage farmer from Straide. Having purchased the farm in the 1980s, Una and her husband, James, managed it jointly until James’ death in 1994.
In 1999, Una was awarded Irish Farm Woman of the Year. She has produced Angus cattle of the highest quality from her dairy herd and has been instrumental in advising other farmers in the region to adopt the breed as their production system.
Una continues to manage the farm independently with the assistance of her family.
Said Charles Smith, general manager of the Irish Angus Producer Group: “The success of the Certified Irish Angus Beef brand has relied on three main factors - the commitment of our farmer members to improving the quality of their cattle and adapting to ever-changing specification requirements while maintaining traditional farming systems, the continued support and confidence in the brand demonstrated by Tesco Ireland and its inclusion under the Tesco Finest portfolio 11 years ago, and the expertise of our processing partners, ABP Food Group and Kepak Group, in bringing our beef to market in a manner which reflects its superior quality at every stage.”
Commented Sheila Gallagher, commercial director, Tesco Ireland: “Working with the Irish Angus Producer Group provides additional endorsement that our beef which carries the Certified Irish Angus label has been produced to the highest quality standards.”
The Irish Angus Producer Group was formed in 1995 by six Angus breeders with the aim of coordinating the production and marketing of their unique product on the Irish market. They subsequently formed a processing and marketing alliance with major beef processors ABP Food Group and Kepak Group.