Dungannon meat company Dunbia could be sold to Moy Park

The Dungannon company did not wish to make a comment on the potential deal.

However, in a statement issued last month, Dunbia confirmed the business was “considering options for maximising the potential of the company going forward” after having “received several serious expressions of interest from would-be investors over the past two years”. It added that it had enjoyed “consistent growth over the past number of years and has ambitious plans to grow and expand the business”.

Economist John Simpson said the potential sale to JBS could see Dunbia begin a rapid growth.

“In terms of the big companies in the meat industry, they were an obvious candidate,” he said.

“On the basis that they will become part of a bigger firm, that could take Dunbia into expansion territory. The danger is there is an issue of Northern Ireland expanding its business and profit, but not necessarily its innovation.”