Dawn Meats said its beef patty plant in County Waterford, Ireland, which supplies fast-food chain McDonald’s across Europe, will reopen for business on Monday (25 May).
The family-owned company, which is active in the beef and lamb sectors supplying retail and foodservice channels, said the facility at Carrolls Cross has been idle since 18 March as McDonald’s outlets shut down under government orders to contain the spread of coronavirus.
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“Team members will now return to the McDonald’s plant in accordance with enhanced protocols, allowing production to recommence smoothly to meet the required demand as McDonald’s restaurants begin the re-opening process both in Ireland and across other European markets,” Dawn Meats said in a statement.
just-food has approached Dawn Meats for an update for its plant in Kilbeggan in County Westmeath, where operations were previously paused due to a number of Covid-19 infections. The company had not replied at the time of writing.
Dawn Meats has ten sites across Ireland where enhanced health and safety protocols have been employed. No workers were furloughed at Waterford and instead were redeployed within the company.
Commenting on the reopening, chief executive Niall Browne said: “The reopening of Carrolls Cross is great news for staff and our supplier farmers, and an important confidence boost for all who have been affected by the closure of restaurants and the loss of the associated production.
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By GlobalData“We are particularly pleased that we have been able to maintain secure employment for all staff, thereby ensuring our ability to swiftly restart production as restaurants reopen on a phased basis as planned.”
