Toronto, Canada – April 16th Bord Bia has marked the launch of Irish Wagyu steak to the Canadian market, marking a rare development for Irish beef exports. It is now the only market in North America where Irish Wagyu is available.
Wagyu is a breed of cattle originally from Japan, known for producing beef with higher levels of marbling. In Ireland, Wagyu beef is produced by specialist farms, typically through cross‑breeding Japanese Wagyu genetics with Irish bred cattle.
Dawn Meats, one of Ireland’s largest beef processors, launched the premium product in Toronto yesterday. The launch follows Dawn Meats winning the World’s Best Steak last year at the World Steak Challenge, one of the leading global competitions for beef producers. In addition to winning the overall global title, Dawn Meats also won the award for the World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye for its Premier Butcher Ribeye Wagyu Cross steak.
Niall Browne, Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Meats, said:
“Irish Wagyu beef is produced and processed in close partnership with our specialist farms and its launch in Canada reflects demand for Irish steak where quality and consistency are highly valued, particularly in high-end hotels and restaurants.
Dawn Meats is committed to sustainably producing high-quality, nutritious and great-tasting grass-fed beef products. We consistently strive to achieve high standards for our customers, and we are thrilled to launch this product to the Canadian market.”
Canada is market of increased priority for Ireland with food and drink exports worth €164 million in 2025. Canada is Ireland’s 12th largest food and drink export market and the fourth largest outside the European Union. Meat exports were valued at just over €21 million, with beef being the main category.
Speaking at the event in Toronto, Shane Hamill, Bord Bia’s Global Business Development Director, said the launch highlights the importance of Canada as Ireland looks to broaden its export base.
“The launch of Irish Wagyu to Canada represents a notable step for Ireland’s beef sector and reflects growing interest in Irish steak among international buyers,” he said. “It also shows the beef sector’s ambition and reflects Ireland’s commitment to the Canadian market, particularly important during this time of international trade volatility and market uncertainty.”
Other Notes
About Dawn Meats
Dawn Meats is the supplier of choice to a range of leading supermarket, foodservice and manufacturing business in over 70 countries. The company was established in 1980 in Co Waterford in Ireland and has grown into a global business that now generates €4.75 billion in annual revenue while employing over 12,000 staff in 13 countries.
World Steak Challenge
In November 2025, Dawn Meats was awarded the World’s Best Steak for its 32-day aged Irish Angus striploin at the World Steak Challenge awards in London. In addition to this, it won 10 gold, four silver and three bronze medals in addition to its four wins in the overall categories – World’s Best Steak, Europe’s Best Steak, World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin and World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye. It was also the only Irish company to win awards in the overall “World’s Best” categories.