Dawn Meats sells minority shareholding in French meat processor

While the collaboration between the two business has seen improved performance and significant investment at Elivia, both parties have decided on alternative arrangements for the ownership of the company.

Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne described his business’s vision as not being aligned with Terrena’s, prompting the decision to dispose of its minority shareholding in Elivia.

Strategically important

“The French market is strategically important for beef and lamb, and we will continue to engage and develop new opportunities in the market,”​ Browne added.

“Independently of our involvement with Elivia and within the same timescale, Dawn Meats and our UK division Dunbia have more than doubled in size and our management team will continue to successfully grow the business with further developments in the pipeline.”​

This disposal of Dawn Meats’ stake in Elivia is subject to approval by the appropriate antitrust authorisations and other authorities in both France and abroad. Details of the deal have not been revealed.

Improved performance

Alain Le Floch, chief executive of Terrena said: “Elivia is a strategically important company within our Cooperative and we are delighted to become again the sole shareholder of Elivia. The company has significantly improved its performance in recent years. ​

“Being 100% farmers owned company, Elivia has strong roots and fundamentals for providing high quality and innovative services and products to its customers, the basis for future commercial success. ​

“We wish Dawn Meats well into the future and thank them for their support of and contribution to Elivia over the years.”​

Dawn’s disposal of Elivia comes three months after its subsidiary Dunbia expanded its presence in the West Country with the acquisition of lamb processor H R Jasper & Son​​ in Cornwall for an undisclosed sum.