NS Pigs talk to Euro partner

Date: 22/5/2006
Source: Farming Life Online

THE North South Pig Company (NS Pigs) is in discussions with a major European pork processing business which will allow the all-island pig venture to significantly expand the scope of its current operations, Farming Life has learned.

Sources believe that there has been important progress in the last two-three months with regard to the pork pig sector which will enable NS Pigs to move forward with a solid and credible European partner.

The deal will provide NS Pigs with access to new processing opportunities which will allow it to become a significant player in the overall pig processing market on the island of Ireland.

To date, the company has restricted its trading activities to the supply of sow carcases to the Westfleich sow meat processing business in Germany. It is currently slaughtering approximately 1,000 sows on a weekly basis at Gort in County Galway.

Significantly, the producer price for sows has increased dramatically since NS Pigs entered the market.

The key question is: Can this be reciprocated in the pork pig market sector?
The company's managing director, Paul Gilmore, would neither confirm nor deny if a deal with a European partner had been reached.

"NS Pigs is committed to giving its shareholders a strategic and financial input into the future shape of the Irish pig industry," he explained "With this aim in mind we have met with a number of European pig processing businesses to assess the options."

He added: "Our aim is to provide shareholders with value-added outlets for all their pigs. And I am confident that the business plan is now in place to meet this objective."

NS Pigs has its origins in a commitment from farming organisations on both parts of this island to get farmers more strategically involved in the pork supply chain.

Months of debate and lobbying resulted in 140 pig producers on both sides of the border agreeing to invest in the new business which commenced trading in August of last year.

The company, which includes separate trading entities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, is controlled by holding company with a board of directors.

Oliver Leddy, from County Cavan, is the current chairman. Northern producers are represented at board level by Liam McGuckian and Charles Beverland