Sofina Foods Europe chief executive, Ash Amirahmadi, has confirmed the strong commitment that exists within the business to Northern Ireland.

He pointed to the 2025 acquisition of the Co. Down-based Finnebrogue bacon and sausage and venison processer as a case in point

Amirahmadi gave the 2026 Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture at Queen’s University Belfast.

He commented: “Sofina Foods is a relatively new food protein business - only 30 years old.

“The company entered the European market in 2021. It now operates from 24 sites in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland, France, and Germany with a very strong focus on pork and seafood processing.”

Amirahmadi spoke about the company's vision for the future.

“Sofina Foods is very committed to the long-term development of a dietary protein supply operation," he said.

“From a financial perspective the company is extremely stable, and this is reflected in our current acquisition-based development strategy."

UK food sector

Speaking more generally about the constraints facing the food sector in the UK, Amirahmadi stressed the need for the industry to attract the brightest and the best young people in order to secure its future.

The Sofina Foods’ representative believes that the food processing sector must develop the closest possible relations with supermarkets.

However, the whole food chain begins with farmers, he noted.

“The need to produce more food in the UK is obvious," Amirahmadi said.

"And this means, at every practical level, bringing land that had previously been dedicated to environmental and conservation schemes back into production.

According to Amirahmadi, the UK government must be prepared to engage and consult with farmers in a constructive manner.

Sofina Foods’s chief executive said that farmers "continue to invest heavily in their businesses" and their role in terms of the future direction for production agriculture "must be fully recognised".

“Innovation will be a key driver for the farming and food industry. Making this happen will require the closest possible relationships being forged between commercial businesses and academia," he said.

“Food and farming is the largest private sector n the UK. Both sectors combined add significantly to the economy of Northern Ireland.

"And we want to build on all of this. I believe that farming and food in the UK can look forward to an extremely bright future.”