Irish Country Meats become first Irish lamb processor to launch in US market

Irish Country Meats (ICM), one of the largest lamb processors in Europe and the specialist sheep meat 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 significant supply agreement has seen ICM deliver its first shipment from its state-of-the-art facility in Camolin, Co Wexford.

To officially mark this agreement, a delegation from the family-owned Marx Foods recently visited the ICM facility in Camolin, Co. Wexford.

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.

“This development is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and hard work of both our teams at ICM Camolin, Wexford and ICM Navan, Meath, and our farmer suppliers.

“We look forward to continuing to build upon our customer relationships in the US and to further grow this market.”

Justin Marx, Executive Vice President, Marx Foods: “At Marx Foods, 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 is great to visit the state-of-the-art facility in Camolin and see first-hand the excellent work undertaken by ICM.”

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.

*This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.