James Byrne, general manager, ICM Camolin; Justin Marx, executive vice-president, Marx Foods; and Paschal Walsh, commercial director, ICM. Photo: Jim Campbell Photography.
Irish lamb makes US debut
Irish Country Meats (ICM), which is a specialist sheepmeat division of ABP Food Group has secured an export agreement with US meat and seafood business, Marx Foods, making it the first Irish lamb processor to export to the US
Irish Country Meats, which is one of the largest lamb processors in Europe and a specialist sheepmeat division of ABP Food Group, has become the first Irish lamb processor to launch in the US market. The company has secured an export agreement with Marx Foods, a premium source and supplier of meat and seafood produce to high-end restaurants across the US. This supply agreement has seen ICM deliver its first shipment from its state-of-the-art facility in Camolin, Co. Wexford. Co. Wexford.
Marx Foods is a fifth-generation family-owned business dedicated to sourcing and supplying meats, seafood, produce, and more that are prepared and served in top restaurants across the US. To officially mark this export agreement, a delegation from Marx Foods recently visited the ICM facility in Camolin.
Significant for Irish meat sector
Commenting on the development, Jerome Aherne, managing director with Irish Country Meats said: “We are delighted to be approved as the first Irish lamb processor to supply the US. This is a significant step forward for ICM, ABP and the Irish meat sector as a whole. The US is an extremely important market, and there is a great opportunity for quality Irish lamb in the hospitality space.” Jerome added that the export agreement is testament to the dedication, innovation, and hard work of its teams at ICM Camolin in Wexford and ICM Navan in Meath, and its farmer suppliers. He continued: “We look forward to continuing to build upon our customer relationships in the US and to further grow this market.”
Justin Marx, who is executive vice-president, Marx Foods said: “We are passionate about finding premium quality produce. We travel the world to connect with farmers and producers, securing the very best for our customers. With the help of ICM, we have identified quality lamb produce that will be dispersed across our US network. It was great to visit the state-of-the-art facility in Camolin and see, firsthand, the excellent work undertaken by ICM.”
NEW MARKET MILESTONES
In September 2024, ABP became the first Irish beef processor to launch in the South Korean market. In May 2018, ABP became the first European beef processor to secure a contract in China when it secured an exclusive three-year agreement with Asian restaurant chain Wowprime Corporation. In 2019 the company reached a deal with Beijing Hopewise Ltd to launch a range of premium Irish beef products on JD.com, one of the largest business-to-consumer online retailers in China and a Fortune Global 500 Company.