Dawn Meats has announced that processing of beef at its dedicated facility at Carrolls Cross, Waterford, for McDonald’s outlets across Europe is to recommence on Monday, 25 May, 2020.
The plant ceased production for McDonald’s on the 18 March, so for more than two months the plant remained inactive.
The company said that its staff 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'.
'Confidence Boost'
'This is welcome news for the employees concerned, the wider Irish beef sector and for Irish beef farmers,' the meat supplier said in a statement.
"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," said Niall Browne, CEO, Dawn Meats.
“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,” Browne added.
Safety Measures
'In line with all Dawn Meats facilities, a comprehensive range of measures has been introduced to ensure social distancing and a safe production environment is maintained at all times,' the company said.
'This includes enhanced cleaning of contact surfaces and communal areas, installation of protective perspex screens and issuance of visors for use by staff,' it added.
McDonalds Reopening
Last week, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President Tim Cullinan welcomed the announcement by McDonald’s that it was planning to re-open some of its restaurants across Ireland.
The fast food giant reopened six of its drive-through restaurants in Dublin yesterday, Wednesday, 20 May 2020.
“McDonald’s is a major purchaser of Irish beef, spending €160 million on 40,000 tonnes each year, and €200 million in the economy in total through their 130 restaurants," Cullinan noted.
“McDonald’s is an iconic global brand and the fact they buy so much is recognition of the quality beef produced from our grass-based production system,” he added.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
