September 21, 2011

Brasil Foods' new pork plant focuses on Asian markets

Brasil Foods has newly established a pork plant in Campos Novos, Santa Caterina state, and is setting sights on the Japanese and Chinese food markets.

The plant, built together with local farming cooperative Copercampos, was opened in the end of last week, Valor Econômico reported.

Wilson Mello Neto, Brasil Foods' vice president of corporate affairs told the publication that the new plant, built in partnership with local farming cooperative Copercampos, will boost the company's total pig slaughter capacity, which now is about 40,000 pigs per day, by 10%.

For China, green light has already been given, after a successful visit there earlier this year by Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff. Brasil Foods considers the country a great growth opportunity for pork.

After having sent a trade and inspection group to the southern Brazilian state earlier this month, Japan will respond within 90 days about whether the country will open its doors to Brazilian pork. Neto added that new markets are paramount for sustainable corporate growth while Russia keeps on maintaining an embargo.

The new plant covers an area of 172 hectares, with 32,000 meter squares of covered area. To start operations, 1,000 pigs will be slaughtered daily, a number that will increase to 7,000 on a daily basis by the end of next year.

The two parties together made a total investment of BRL145 million (US$84.5 million). The new plant is expected to generate 1,800 direct jobs and 450 indirect jobs.

The plant will produce cuts of fresh pork and generate accessory food products for other processed foods produced by BRF plants. The plant is expected to process approximately 151,000 tonnes of pork annually, most of which will be exported.