UK poultry company sold to Brazil
Moy Park, the largest integrated poultry company in the UK, has been sold to the Brazilian company Marfrig.
From its base in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, Moy Park run farming and processing operations throughout the UK, including a state of the art flagship plant at Anwick in Lincolnshire.
The sale, which is part of a larger deal between Chicago based OSI and Marfrig worth $2 billion, will see the Brazilian processor make significant expansions into the poultry sector from their traditional red meat base.
Commenting on the takeover an NFU statement said,“The UK poultry industry has built a strong and loyal consumer base for British chicken, with the use of the Great British Chicken – Red Tractor brand. We are encouraged this major Brazilian meat company is looking to invest in our farming industry. However it is important this move doesn’t just facilitate the importation of meat and carcasses from outside the UK.
“We are looking forward to working closely with Moy Park and Marfrig in developing the British Chicken brand and reputation, and in forging close relationships between them and our farmer members.
“The sale by OSI comes at a time for the industry of soaring feed and energy costs, with only marginal price increases for the end product in return.
The NFU went on to say,“While we look forward to working with Marfrig we need to be sure we are not welcoming a ‘Trojan horse’ into our midst, in the form of a large processor and potential importer of South American beef and other imported meat.
