Celebrating decades of trusted partnership, a shared commitment to quality and innovation in beef supply.
ABP Linden, part of the ABP Food Group, has once again demonstrated its position as a leading supplier of premium beef to Marks & Spencer, following the success of its inaugural ABP Linden Steak Challenge, held recently at its Dungannon site.
James Hewitt, Winner of the Core category, and Evelyn Bourke, M&S Non-Executive Director
The event, which welcomed beef suppliers and their families, placed meat-eating quality firmly centre stage – showcasing how genetics, feed, animal welfare, processing and expert butchery all contribute to delivering the outstanding steak quality M&S customers expect.
M&S has worked with ABP Linden for over two decades, sharing a focus on sustainable agriculture, traceability and quality assurance. ABP Linden is responsible for supplying a range of beef products to the M&S Foodhall – from everyday essentials to luxury cuts – including the M&S Aberdeen Angus, Wagyu and core steak range.
Hosted by Keith Williamson, ABP Linden-M&S Agricultural Manager, the event included updates from George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP Linden in Northern Ireland, and Peter Kennedy, M&S Senior Agricultural Manager, alongside a live cooking demonstration from ABP Linden’s Development Chef, James Smith. Suppliers also heard from Gareth Weir, ABP Linden NI Technical Director, on how meat-eating quality is assessed and influenced.
The competition itself was split into three categories – Core, Aberdeen Angus, and Wagyu – with entries assessed via blind taste testing by a panel of ABP and M&S judges. The winners were:
• Core: James Hewitt (Simmental heifer)
• Aberdeen Angus: John Dobson (suckler-bred heifer with excellent marbling)
• Wagyu: Michael Hughes (animal from ABP Linden’s integrated Wagyu supply chain)
Each winner received a premium cut from their own animal, and suppliers enjoyed a tasting session of all entries during the evening.
Keith Williamson, ABP Linden-M&S Agri Manager commented: “This event was about more than competition, it was a celebration of the collaboration and shared standards that underpin our work with M&S. From farm to fork, everyone in the chain plays a vital role in delivering the eating quality customers expect. It was fantastic to recognise and reward that passion and commitment.”
Speaking after the event, Peter Kennedy from M&S said: “At M&S, we pride ourselves on offering our customers the highest standards of quality, and that starts with the farmers and suppliers we work with. Events like this give us an opportunity to celebrate the care and expertise that goes into every cut of beef we sell – and we’re proud to work with ABP Linden and their incredible supplier base in Northern Ireland.”
From field to fork, ABP Linden continues to play a critical role in M&S’s reputation for premium beef, bringing world-class expertise to the selection and supply of products across its tiered range – ensuring consistency, sustainability and excellence every time.
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For further information, please contact:
Sasha Jeffrey or Naomi Finnegan at ASG
Tel: 07801 254703
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]