FDBusiness.com

ABPFood Group, the largest beef processor in Ireland and the UK, has announced an exclusive ground breaking deal with Beijing Hopewise to launch a range of premium Irish beef products on JD.com, a Chinese e-commerce platform. It is one of the largest business-to-consumer online retailers in China by transaction volume and revenue, with 301.8 million active users recorded in the first quarter of 2018. The process of purchasing beef products online is one of the fastest growing trends in the Chinese market.

The agreement will see ABP ship a range of premium beef cuts via container load to the Hopewise processing facilities in Shanghai and Beijing. From here, the beef will be processed into consumer packs, with consumers able to purchase for direct home delivery via the JD.com platform on their phones.

Mark Goodman, managing director of ABP’s International Division, says: “ABP is delighted to be the first European processor to offer premium beef products to China’s growing online marketplace. This deal is a further tangible endorsement of the quality beef that Ireland and ABP continues to offer. We look forward to building on our relationships in the Chinese market, and working closely with both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bord Bia to continue to grow the market share for Irish beef in China.”

This is ABP’s second contract in the Chinese market. In May, ABP was the first Irish company to secure a contract in China, with an exclusive three-year agreement with Asian restaurant chain Wowprime Corporation. Earlier this year, ABP extended its range of premium ‘Irish Nature Organic’ steaks with YATA, a Hong Kong-based supermarket chain. The company also exports Irish beef to the Philippines and Japan.