Day 125 - 12 May 95 - Page 41


     
     1        back to the 50s.  I was not around during the 50s but that
     2        might have been the case during the 50s as well.
     3
     4   Q.   So these are the people that supply you with patties,
     5        specifically?
     6        A.  Yes.
     7
     8   Q.   In terms of further back in the chain, the abattoirs, do
     9        you find that the control over them is now much greater
    10        than it was when you had 175 suppliers?
    11        A.  Quality assurance is more easily conducted.  There is
    12        greater assurance of the end product today than there was
    13        back then.
    14
    15   Q.   When it says: "By the mid-1980 McDonald's had converted its
    16        distribution system into the market of food processing
    17        business.  It reduced its beef suppliers from 175 to just
    18        five" could you set an actual date when you finally had
    19        your five present suppliers, when that process was
    20        complete?
    21        A.  No, I would not know the exact date.  The ownership in
    22        one or two instances has changed.  One of the five plants
    23        in America is now minority-run, is run by and a minority.
    24
    25   Q.   But in terms of establishing the five suppliers and
    26        completing that process, could you say whether it was 1985,
    27        1986?
    28        A.  I would not, I do not know the exact date.
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think you are being asked more about
    31        numbers than the status of the five.
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  Yes.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think Mr. Morris wants to know if you can
    36        help as to when you finally got down to the five suppliers,
    37        trimming all the time over two or three years, quite
    38        rapidly, you said; when did you get down to the five?
    39
    40   MR. MORRIS:  When was that completed, that process, about?
    41        A.  I do not recall, Mr. Morris.  I cannot tell you when,
    42        an exact date, but that could be provided, when it was
    43        complete.
    44
    45   Q.   I am just trying to clarify, when you got down to five
    46        suppliers they would be five patty suppliers, yes?  Five
    47        production plants of patties?
    48        A.  To my knowledge I think there are more than five
    49        plants.  There are five suppliers, although some of those
    50        suppliers supply other things other than meat patties. 
    51 
    52   Q.   But, in terms of your beef supplies, your patty supplies, 
    53        at some stage it was got down to five companies that
    54        supplied patties; is that correct?
    55        A.  That is correct.  To the best of my knowledge it is
    56        still five.
    57
    58   Q.   Do you remember what the five main suppliers were in, say,
    59        the late 80s?  What were those five suppliers?  What ones
    60        are we talking about?  Who owns these production plants?

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