Dunbia, the Tyrone headquartered food company, is to invest £27 million in Northern Ireland and create an additional 209 jobs in Dungannon.

The Dunbia Group, which employs around 4,000 people across 13 facilities in Europe, specialises in the production of beef, pork and lamb products.

It processes on average 300,000 cattle every year and its customers include major retailers, food service outlets and wholesalers throughout the UK and Ireland.

It is also one of the North’s major exporters and currently sells its products throughout Europe and across the globe but it is keen to expand its export operations further.

Dunbia today announced plans to develop a new “intelligent boning hall” and to upgrade production lines which it said will enable it to increase current output levels and support its export ambitions.

Jim Dobson, managing director of Dunbia Group, said: “Innovation has been at the heart of Dunbia’s success and this investment in new production technology will create a centre of excellence for beef deboning.

“It will help us to maintain our position as a leading meat processor in the UK and Ireland and to deliver on our growth strategy over the next three to five years.”

The North's Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the investment boost and new job creation project in Tyrone.

Dunbia employs in the region of 1,000 people at its Dungannon facility and Mrs Foster said the additional jobs the company hopes to create could have the potential to generate annual salaries of £3.4 million for the area.

Mrs Foster added: “Dunbia is investing in innovative technology and production processes to enable it to maximise the return on its resources and remain cost-competitive.

“This investment was secured for Northern Ireland by Invest NI, which has built up a strong relationship with Dunbia NI. Invest Northern Ireland has offered £2million of support and will continue to work closely with the company as it grows.”