ABP Food Group, controlled by Larry Goodman, has today commenced High Court proceedings for breach of contract against Polish supplier, Food Service, in relation to its alleged supply of beef containing equine DNA to Silvercrest Foods in Ballybay, Co Monaghan.
Separately, ABP in a statement this afternoon said it has agreed to accept a financial settlement from Norwest Foods for Norwest supplying Silvercrest with beef containing equine DNA.
“Norwest Foods has confirmed that it has agreed a settlement with ABP relating to the supply by Norwest to ABP of certain beef products found to contain equine DNA. Norwest acknowledges that it may have unknowingly and unwittingly supplied contaminated beef products contrary to the terms of Norwest’s contract with ABP. Norwest wishes to apologise to ABP for any inconvenience or concerns caused by this supply,” ABP Group stated.
Details of the financial settlement are subject to a confidentiality agreement, ABP Group added.
Commenting on these developments, Paul Finnerty, chief executive of ABP Group said: “ABP has always insisted that it never knowingly provided beef that contained equine DNA to any of its customers. This was confirmed in the findings of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s report of March 2013. ABP’s initial focus was to implement systems to ensure this cannot reoccur and establish the source of certain contaminated product. We have done that now and our current focus is on seeking redress against certain suppliers. We have already resolved matters with Norwest and will now pursue our claim against Food Service through the courts.”
