Ireland-based meat giant ABP Food Group has acquired a shareholding in UK beef-to-venison supplier Dovecote Park.
ABP has bought Benoni Corp, which held a minority stake in Dovecote Park, a supplier of red meats to UK grocer Waitrose.
Benoni was owned by Dovecote Park director Amanda Buitelaar. According to filings for Dovecote Park at Companies House, the UK business register, Buitelaar stepped down as a director in April.
The filings also show ABP’s Tom Kirwan was appointed a director at Dovecote Park in June.
The Yorkshire-based meat supplier is controlled by Extra Detail, a holding company owned by chairman David Gunner and chief executive Richard Canvin.
Approached by Just Food, ABP declined to comment on the transaction.
However, in a statement, Dovecote Park confirmed ABP’s investment.
“The acquisition of Benoni represents a long-term strategic investment for the ABP Group,” the statement read. “They have taken a seat on the board of directors of Extra Detail Ltd and its subsidiary companies. Benoni, as a minority shareholder, will be supportive of the group’s strategic direction, whilst maintaining the policy of acknowledging the current board and management team’s independent ability and authority to grow and develop the Dovecote Park business.”
The most recent accounts filed with Companies House for Dovecote Park cover the year to 26 September 2025. Turnover grew but a jump in the cost of sales and higher distribution costs weighed on profits.
The accounts show Dovecote Park’s turnover grew 23.2% during the year to £347m ($467.2m). Operating profit reached £3.6m, down 18.9% on 12 months earlier. Profit for the period was £2.6m, a fall of 17.1% on the previous year.
In May, Netherlands-based meat processor Vion Food Group announced it had sold a slaughterhouse in Germany to ABP. The Buchloe site handles about 90,000 cattle annually.
In February, ABP said it was assessing around 230 possible job cuts at its cutting and deboning plant in Waterford.
A month earlier, the company announced it would close its site in Linden in Northern Ireland, with the loss of 338 jobs.
ABP said at the time the decision was based on adapting to “trading conditions and market trends”, along with the need to consolidate.
“ABP Food Group invests in UK red-meats supplier Dovecote Park” was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.
