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Market Pulse: ABP Acquires C&J Meats, a French Beef Squeeze, and Spanish Export Growth
Published 6 days ago in News

Market Pulse: ABP Acquires C&J Meats, a French Beef Squeeze, and Spanish Export Growth

Irish giant ABP acquires UK processor C&J Meats, French beef producers face a margin squeeze, and Spanish Serrano ham exports continue their strong growth.

Profile picture of Bo Pedersen
Bo Pedersen
Chief Revenue Officer

Corporate Strategy: Ireland's ABP Acquires C&J Meats

What happened: In a significant cross-border deal, Irish-based ABP Food Group has acquired the UK beef and lamb processing business, C&J Meats. The acquisition will see the UK company's facilities and supply contracts integrated into ABP's extensive UK division. The move further consolidates the UK red meat processing sector and strengthens ABP's position as one of its largest players.

Why it matters: This is another example of the ongoing consolidation trend in the European meat industry. For ABP, it's a strategic move to increase scale, efficiency, and market share in the key UK market. For the UK industry, it reduces the number of independent processors, a point of concern for farmer organisations who fear it will lessen competition for livestock.

Implications & suggested actions:

  • Farmers (UK): The reduction in the number of independent abattoirs is a major concern. It is crucial to engage with your farm representatives to ensure that the market for your cattle and sheep remains competitive.

  • Processors (Competitors): The increasing scale of major players like ABP raises the competitive bar. Mid-sized and smaller operators need to focus on their unique selling points, such as regional provenance, niche breeds, or specialised services, to maintain their market position.

  • Wholesalers & Retailers: A larger, more integrated supplier like ABP may offer benefits of scale and supply chain efficiency. However, it is also a reminder of the importance of maintaining a diverse supplier base to mitigate risk and ensure a competitive procurement environment.

Market Trends: French Beef Producers Face Margin Squeeze

What happened: The French beef sector is currently facing a significant margin squeeze, with producer prices for finished cattle remaining at historically high levels while retail beef prices have not seen a corresponding increase. According to the latest data from FranceAgriMer, this is putting severe pressure on the profitability of French beef producers and abattoirs, as they are unable to pass the full cost of the raw material on to consumers.

Why it matters: This situation highlights a classic supply chain dilemma: consumer resistance to high prices at the retail level is creating a bottleneck, and the financial pressure is being felt most acutely by the primary producers and processors. If the situation persists, it could lead to a reduction in the French cattle herd as farmers find beef production unprofitable, further tightening EU beef supply in the long term.

Implications & suggested actions:

  • French Farmers: The current price dynamic is unsustainable. Work through your co-operatives and industry bodies to highlight this issue and to explore ways of better communicating the value of French beef to justify a higher shelf price.

  • French Processors: You are at the sharp end of this margin squeeze. Focus on maximising the value of every part of the carcase and work collaboratively with your retail partners on promotional strategies that can support a necessary price increase without deterring shoppers.

  • Retailers (France): A financially unsustainable supply chain is a risk to your business. A strategic, long-term approach is needed. This may involve accepting slightly lower margins on beef in the short term or investing in joint promotional campaigns with the industry to explain the reasons for the price pressure to consumers.

International Trade: Spanish Serrano Ham Exports Continue to Grow

What happened: The Consorcio del Jamón Serrano Español (Spanish Serrano Ham Consortium) has reported continued strong export growth for the first half of 2025. Total exports of its quality-sealed hams increased by 6.5%, with particularly strong performance in key EU markets like Germany and France. The consortium credited the growth to its targeted promotional campaigns and the growing consumer demand for authentic, high-quality European products.

Why it matters: This demonstrates the significant global appeal and resilience of high-value, traditional European meat products. The success of Serrano ham, a PGI-protected product, shows that a clear focus on quality, provenance, and coordinated marketing can drive growth even in a competitive and inflationary market. It provides a positive blueprint for other speciality meat producers across the EU.

Implications & suggested actions:

  • Spanish Producers: This continued growth validates the consortium's strategy. Continue to invest in the quality and traceability systems that underpin the ConsorcioSerrano seal to maintain consumer trust and the product's premium status.

  • EU Competitors: The success of Serrano ham highlights the power of a strong, unified brand identity for a national product. For producers of other traditional meats (e.g., Black Forest ham, Prosciutto di Parma), this is a reminder of the importance of collaborative marketing to build a global presence.

  • Retailers & Importers: The strong demand for authentic, protected-status products is a clear consumer trend. Ensure your charcuterie selection reflects this by giving prominent placement to products like ConsorcioSerrano ham and using marketing materials to tell their story of tradition and quality.

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