Burger King has signed a deal with Kepak which will see the Monaghan-based food processor supplying burgers to the fast food chain. The move comes after the suspension of its contract with Silvercrest Foods in January 2013, following revelations that one of the burgers produced at the Silvercrest plant was composed of 29% horsemeat. Burger King, which has more than 500 outlets in Ireland and the UK, was one of four major customers at the Larry Goodman-owned Silvercrest plant in Co. Monaghan.
The fast food giant has been sourcing its beef burgers from Germany and Italy since the end of January.
Commenting on the announcement of the deal, Kepak managing director John Horgan said: “Kepak Group is delighted to confirm that it has agreed terms with Burger King Worldwide to exclusively supply burgers to restaurants in Ireland, UK. The contract will be supplied from Kepak Ballybay.” Burger King's general manager, Raj Varman said the fast food chain was was “proud to bring back 100 per cent Irish and British beef to our restaurants”.
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney welcomed the deal too, stating, “I want to thank Burger King and Kepak for their continued support for the Irish Beef industry. This is a very positive news story for the industry today and an endorsement of the high quality product that we are best in the world at producing.”
