ABP Food Group claims to have become the first beef processor in Ireland to export to South Korea, building on the company’s presence in China.

The Ardee, County Louth-headquartered business said it has secured a “long-term” supply agreement with meat importer K Meat, which has a sales network across South Korea.

Three beef shipments have already been made from a trio of ABP Food’s factories in Ireland – Monaghan, Tipperary and Wexford.

Martin McMahon, the general manager of ABP Food’s international sales, said in a statement: “Our extended presence in Asia marks a significant step forward for both ABP and the Irish beef sector as a whole.

“China and South Korea are extremely important markets and there is a great opportunity for quality Irish beef in the foodservice and retail spaces.”

ABP Food said the South Korea agreement was secured with the support of Ireland’s agriculture ministry and the Irish food board and trade agency Bord Bia.

“We would encourage continued efforts for further access in both markets,” McMahon urged.

Jim O’Toole, the CEO of Bord Bia, added: “The launch of Irish beef in Korea is the culmination of years of relationship building with Korean trade, supported by significant government efforts to gain access.”

ABP Food’s access to South Korea will now be promoted to other Irish beef producers and exporters based on an “insight study” with consumers in the North Asia country, O’Toole said.

For China, ABP Food said it first started shipping beef to the country in 2018 after securing a three-year supply agreement with the restaurant chain Wowprime. Another deal followed in 2019 with meat importer Beijing Hopewise to sell Irish beef through the online platform JD.com.

Other ABP Food customers in China now include Dalin Rongze, a foodservice supplier for restaurants in Beijing, and AP Shanghai Food Co., which serves the retail grocery chain Fresh Hipo in tier-one and tier-two cities.

Irish beef shipments to China were interrupted in 2020 following a suspension linked to mad-cow disease, or BSE. The market reopened again in January 2023 before another suspension was implemented in November that year. Access was regranted in January of this year.

ABP Food said it ships beef and associated products to China from seven factories.