Two Co Tyrone companies have announced investments aimed at increasing their market share in Britain. Dungannon Meats is spending £3.5 million, backed by a grant of £1 million from the IDB, to expand its production of consumer packs for major food retailers, including Sainsbury's.

John Finlay (Concrete Pipes) is investing £1.2 million at its plant in Ballygawley, where it employs almost 250 people. The IDB is contributing just over £200,000 to the project.

Dungannon Meats employs 450 people at its beef and lamb processing plant on the Granville Industrial Estate in the town. Around half of them work in the company's retail packs subsidiary, which was established four years ago. The latest expansion will result in the creation of 10 more jobs, with another 90 likely to be created over the next two years.

The managing director of Dungannon Meats, Mr Jim Dobson, said the company had developed a close relationship with Sainsbury's, and had identified several new business opportunities for the production of a range of pre-packed added value products.

"It positions the company for growth in overseas markets when the ban on the export of UK beef is finally lifted."