Boning Hall Operative - Primary

M&S invests £2.1bn to extend its commitment to British lamb and beef with decade-long contracts. 10 Apr 2026 * M&S is investing £2.1bn and extending its commitment to sourcing British lamb and beef through two decade-long contracts with ABP and Dunbia, supporting 3,500 British M&S Select Farms * Long term commitments give British suppliers the surety of supply and confidence to invest against a challenging backdrop and increased competition * M&S's Plan A for Farming strategy is built around a commitment to sourcing 100% British on key products like beef, chicken, pork and eggs * M&S is the only UK retailer to offer Best in Season, 100% British across all fresh lamb - starting with West Country lamb in the south of the UK, moving north as the season progresses. Today, M&S announces that it is extending its commitment to British lamb and beef farming with a £2.1bn investment. The investment will see two new decade-long supplier contracts with ABP and Dunbia, who together work with 3,500 M&S Select Farmers to bring British lamb and beef to Foodhalls. The new ten-year contract secures long-term British supply for M&S all year round while protecting exclusivity across its Wagyu Gold, Aberdeen Angus Gold, and Organic ranges as customer demand for beef grows. Aberdeen Angus Gold, launched last year, is an integrated beef standard developed in partnership with farmers using a science-led breeding programme, guaranteeing exceptional quality and high welfare at a 40% lower carbon footprint vs standard beef. Longer term contracts give suppliers the confidence to invest in the latest technology and methods to maintain M&S's leading quality: Dunbia plan to open new salt drying chambers exclusive to M&S, and ABP will partner with M&S to invest in the latest state of the art equipment used for packaging and cutting meat and streamlined production lines. Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food: "M&S Food offers the best quality at great value, and it's our British farmers who uphold our market-leading welfare standards, and produce food to the quality our customers expect. But farmers face a number of challenges and now more than ever need UK retailers to commit to sourcing from within the UK. Our long-term commitment to sourcing British fresh lamb and beef, through our partners at ABP and Dunbia, will support longer term investments and security for farmers for years to come." Trevor, M&S Select Beef Farmer "A decade long agreement sends a strong message in support of British farmers: Long term stability is essential if we're going to keep improving our businesses and planning for the next generation. M&S has always been a retailer we trust to support producers, and this contract reinforces that commitment in a way that really makes a difference on the ground." Michael Doran, Managing Director of Dunbia: "Securing this new 10-year strategic partnership with M&S represents a significant milestone for Dunbia and a strong endorsement of the quality, capability, and commitment of our entire team. This agreement strengthens our ability to support the network of dedicated British farmers who are central to our supply chain. Their expertise, high welfare standards, and commitment to sustainable farming underpin everything we do. This partnership allows us to deepen that collaboration, invest in their future, and build a resilient, thriving British farming sector for the years ahead." Kevin Cahill, CEO of ABP UK: "We're delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with M&S Food, and it is testament to our product quality and commitment to customer service that this will continue for the next decade. This long-term agreement will enable us to invest in the future of the supply chain and provide greater security for our farmer suppliers in the years ahead." The M&S Plan A For Farming strategy runs to 2030 and is focused on British sourcing, sustainability, high standards, and resilience. The goal is to help farmers feel confident about the future, grow their businesses, and invest, ensuring M&S can continue delivering quality food to millions of families across the UK. M&S is backing Britain as it builds on its long-standing and industry-leading commitment to British farming.

Dunbia introduces new ham BAFTA carbon reduction network. 12th February A fresh push to reduce carbon emissions in the meat supply chain is putting farmers at the heart of sustainable change. Dawn Meats Group, through its division Dunbia, has launched a new phase of its Plan Four Zero Activate programme to deliver on-farm carbon reduction in beef and lamb production. Dunbia Activate Leaders is a new network of UK beef and lamb farmers recruited to showcase the potential for carbon reduction at farm level and identify opportunities to build more resilient, sustainable, and profitable farming systems. Gill Higgins, sustainability director at Dawn Meats Group, said: "As part of Plan Four Zero Craven Herald is delighted to partner with the Soil Association Exchange on the Activate Leaders' programme. "Each of the nine farms will be provided with expert advice and insights, enabling evidence-based decisions and the adoption of techniques tailored to their individual farms, including best practice management such as monitoring soil health, and adoption of practices such as multispecies swards and adapting grazing rotations, amongst other key measures." The network brings together nine farms from across the UK, representing a variety of beef and sheep systems. The programme is part of Dunbia's wider Activate scheme, which has already gathered and analysed more than 860 carbon footprints across 1,350 farms in its UK supply chain to support a data-driven approach to scope 3 emission reduction in the beef and lamb industry. Participating farmers receive tailored action plans focused on emissions reduction, increased carbon removals, and overall improvements in farm efficiency and sustainability. The programme is part of Dunbia's wider Activate scheme, which has already gathered and analysed more than 860 carbon footprints across 1,350 farms (Image: Dawn Meats) In addition to carbon reduction, the Activate Leaders programme will measure and improve biodiversity, soil and water, emphasising the vital role livestock farming plays in nature conservation and carbon storage. Dunbia will partner with the Soil Association Exchange to provide the farms with holistic environmental assessments, benchmarking, and insightful data to guide decision-making and track progress. Sarah Haire, head of agriculture at Dawn Meats Group, said: "Its commitment to supporting its farmer suppliers as they navigate an increasingly complex sustainability landscape - and doing so through simple, practical on-farm actions, reflects its belief in what's possible when Craven Herald work together. "We're confident that the Activate Leaders will serve as an inspiring example of the impact we can achieve through true collaboration toward our shared climate goals." Joseph Gridley, CEO of Soil Association Exchange, added: "Craven Herald is proud to be working with Dunbia and Dawn Meats on the Activate programme. "At Soil Association Exchange, we help farmers turn robust data into practical action - giving them clear insights, tailored advice and the confidence to make changes that improve both environmental outcomes and farm profitability." At an industry level, Dawn Meats Group has committed more than £87 million to its long-term Plan Four Zero strategy aimed at building climate resilience across its operations. Its most recent sustainability update reported a nine per cent reduction in Scope 3 emissions intensity. Dunbia says that a core component of the programme is knowledge transfer, and those interested can keep track of updates and case studies.