A pork producer has bought a Northern Irish food processing business as it continues to expand.

EDP/EADT Top 100 food producer Cranswick has acquired the whole of the issued share capital of Dunbia Ballymena.

The County Antrim-based facility currently employs 360 people and processes around 7,800 pigs each week. In the year to March 29 revenues were £72.4m.

Cranswick's expects the acquisition to be earnings neutral in the current financial year but to generate earnings in 2018.

Adam Couch, chief executive of Cranswick, said: 'I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Dunbia's Ballymena pork processing business. This acquisition strengthens our UK pork processing business and provides us with greater control over our supply chain, ensuring that we can maintain the production and processing of high quality, UK farm assured, pigs which is central to our customer's requirements.

'The management at Ballymena have created long lasting and sustained supply chain relationships and we look forward to building on this and continuing to invest in the facilities, and the team, over the years ahead. We welcome Jack and the team at Ballymena to Cranswick and look forward to working with them to develop the business further.'