NBA calculates combined shares of ABP, Dawn and Kepak at only 20% Fragmentation revealed by association's figures Beef processing in Britain is a much more fragmented industry than commonly believed, according to throughput estimates published on Monday by the National Beef Association. Major slaughterers, especially the Irish owned Anglo Beef Processors, Dawn and Kepak, have relatively small market shares while a large number of medium sized operators together comprise an inadequately recognised force in the sector ­ at least if the NBA's figures are accurate. ABP, Dawn and Kepak are widely believed to have about 40% of kill capacity, and to have given Irish meat industry investors and traders a pivotal role in the British beef sector since the dismemberment of Hillsdown and departure of other formerly powerful operators including Beck. But the NBA calculates the combined shares of these three companies at little more than 20%. Adding West Country based St Merryn, Midland Meat Packers of Northampton and Aberdeen's McIntosh Donald gives a total market share of only about 31% for the five biggest cattle slaughterers in Britain. Northern Ireland is a very different story, kill capacity there being highly concentrated with just four companies handling nearly 90% of prime cattle throughput. The contrast between the industry structures of Northern Ireland and Great Britain indicates the commercial and political significance of NBA's figures. {{MEAT }}

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