01323 873645

Chesterfield Poultry Pioneers New Inspection Standards with In-House Team

Chesterfield Poultry, based in Thorne, South Yorkshire, has taken a major step forward in its operations by transitioning from relying on Food Standards Agency (FSA) meat inspectors to creating its own team of Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs).

This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to quality and safety in poultry production.

The transition was made possible after Chesterfield Poultry’s team successfully completed the FDQ Level 2 Award for Proficiency in Poultry Meat Inspection, specialising in the Broilers and Hens pathway. The qualification ensures that staff have the technical expertise required to carry out poultry meat inspections with the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency.

Chesterfield Poultry’s newly qualified PIAs

Following a final assessment by the Food Standards Agency’s Official Veterinarian (FSA OV), Chesterfield Poultry’s newly trained team received FSA authorisation to perform post-mortem inspection duties. The transition was supported by the FDQ-accredited Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) and their lead assessor, Dr. Craig Kirby.

Mihaela Otter, Technical Manager at Chesterfield Poultry, who led the project, expressed her pride in the team’s achievements. “With a rigorous qualification like this, it was vital to choose learners with strong knowledge and understanding before beginning the course with AIMS. When the team reached the assessment stage with Dr. Kirby, I was confident their dedication would ensure success. I am incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished,” she said.

Chesterfield Poultry Director Nadeem Iqbal also highlighted the significance of the initiative, both for the company and its workforce. “This journey has been immensely rewarding. It has given our top employees the opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the high-quality poultry production at our Thorne plant. Thanks to Mihaela’s leadership and the support from FDQ and AIMS, we are confident that our products meet the highest inspection standards and are safe for consumers,” he said.

With this move, Chesterfield Poultry not only strengthens its internal capabilities but also ensures that its products continue to meet rigorous food safety standards, giving consumers confidence in the quality of their poultry products.

Brazil Halts Meat Supply to Carrefour

A significant shift in the Brazilian meat industry has emerged as major companies begin to suspend their supply to Carrefour and its subsidiaries in Brazil. This move comes as a direct response to the French retailer’s recent announcement of a boycott on Mercosur meat products.

The decision to halt meat supply was initiated on Friday, November 22, 2024. It follows a statement made by Carrefour’s global CEO, Alexandre Bompard, on Wednesday. Bompard declared a boycott on meat from Mercosur countries, citing solidarity with French agricultural interests.

This retaliation could significantly impact Carrefour’s operations. The company’s Brazilian unit contributes 17% of global revenues and 51% of net profits. A loss of 2-5% of Brazilian customers could cost Carrefour $315-788 million in revenue.

Industry sources reveal that 30% of Carrefour’s Brazilian units are already experiencing supply disruptions. The impact is primarily affecting beef products, with a growing number of poultry suppliers joining the movement. No interruptions in pork deliveries have been reported so far.

Richard Mann | The Rio Times

 

JBS Commits $2.5 Billion to Build Six Factories in Nigeria

SAO PAULO, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Brazilian meatpacker JBS said on Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria’s government for a $2.5 billion investment plan in the African country, including the building of six new factories.
In a statement, JBS said three of the factories would deal in poultry, two in beef and one in pork.
Based on the memorandum of understanding, JBS said it will build up a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, including feasibility studies, budget estimates and an action plan for local supply chain development.
The government of Nigeria, in turn, would ensure the economic, sanitary and regulatory conditions needed for the project’s viability, JBS added.

Brazil and China Edge Closer to Pork Offal Export Deal

SAO PAULO, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Brazil is close to finalizing protocols for exporting pork offal and fish to China, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, in the wake of a historic visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the South American nation.
The agreements were not signed during Xi’s visit as details pertaining to the protocols are still pending, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were private.
The sources said negotiations for both protocols were advanced and should be completed soon. They declined to give a time frame for an announcement.
“It should not take long,” one of the persons said.
The negotiation of the protocols comes amid a trade dispute involving China and European pork suppliers, whom China has accused of dumping.
China’s total pork imports, including offal, totaled about $6 billion in 2023, with Spain accounting for about $1.5 billion.

Carrefour Boycotts Mercosur Meat Over Trade Deal

Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced this week that his company would not be selling meat imported from the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in a move to prevent the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union from pulling through. France’s largest supermarket planned on suspending meat imports from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay “in solidarity with the agricultural sector.”

In a letter to French farmers’ union leader Arnaud Rousseau, Bompard said he hoped to “inspire other players in the agri-food sector” as the European country rises as a stalwart against the commerce treaty between the two blocs whereas other European powers such as Germany advocate eliminating the need for consensus among members to move on with the initiative.

“Carrefour wants to act alongside the agricultural sector and today undertakes not to sell meat from Mercosur,” the letter assured. “We hope to inspire other actors in the agri-food sector and to encourage a broader solidarity movement,” it added.

MercoPress

Tönnies Group Rebrands as Premium Food Group to Reflect Broader Food Manufacturing Focus

German meat producer Tönnies Group will rebrand as Premium Food Group starting next year.

This change reflects the company’s evolution from a meat processor to a broader food manufacturer.

The Tönnies brand will now be exclusively associated with the meat production business unit, while the new Premium Food Group name will represent the entire company.

The rebranding will include replacing the Tönnies signage on the cold storage facility at the company’s headquarters in Rheda-Wiedenbrück with the new PFG logo.

Tönnies shareholder Maximilian Tönnies explained that this structural transformation process began years ago and aims to position the company for the future. He emphasized that the goal is to enable business areas to make decisions faster and act more independently, with each area operating as its own company.

Original story by Just Food

 

 

Russian Firm Boosts Meat Exports

Damate Group, Russia’s leading turkey meat producer, has reported a significant increase in its exports for the first nine months of 2024.

The company exported 8,300 tonnes of turkey and duck meat, which is double the amount exported in the same period last year.

Of this, turkey meat exports stood at 8,000 tonnes, with 6,300 tonnes coming from the Penza region and 1,700 tonnes from the Rostov region.

Damate has been exporting turkey to China since 2019, initially from the Penza region and later from the Rostov region starting at the end of 2023. Exports of duck meat from the Rostov region began at the start of 2024. China remains a key export market for Damate Group, which was the first Russian company to receive permission to export products to that country.

The company began developing its export business in 2015 and currently holds permits for deliveries to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries and another 34 countries worldwide.

In 2023, Damate increased turkey meat production by 10%, reaching 237,000 tonnes in slaughter weight.

Interfax

Pickstock’s Scottish Expansion Approved Without Environmental Impact Assessment

Pickstock’s Scottish Expansion Moves Forward Without Environmental Impact Assessment

The English meat processing firm Pickstock has received approval to proceed with its multi-million pound expansion into Scotland without the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Shropshire-based company plans to construct an abattoir near the A74(M) close to Ecclefechan in Dumfries and Galloway.

Despite local villagers’ concerns and a request for the Scottish government to review the council’s decision, the Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate (PARD) concluded that the issues raised did not justify overturning the council’s stance. Consequently, a study of the potential environmental effects is not required.

Pickstock announced its plans for the new facility earlier this year, highlighting that the development would create up to 60 full-time jobs and reduce travel time for animals currently transported to its Telford facility.

Local residents had voiced worries about the “likely significant effects” on light pollution, flooding, traffic, and potential “human health impacts” of the proposals. However, the Scottish government determined that with the proposed mitigation measures, the development would not have “significant adverse effects” on the environment.

Read the original story at BBC News

Dawn Meats Secures Multimillion-Euro Contract as South Korea Opens Market to Irish Beef

Dawn Meats has celebrated the opening of the South Korean market to Irish beef for the first time this week, announcing a significant initial multimillion-euro contract for monthly shipments with a leading South Korean company.
This marks a major milestone for the company and the Irish beef industry.

Two Dawn Meats plants, located in Grannagh, Co Waterford, and Charleville, Co Cork, are among seven Irish plants that have received approval to supply beef cuts and offal to the South Korean market. Other approved suppliers include rivals Kepak, ABP Slaney Meats, and Liffey Meats.

Dawn Meats already has a presence in other markets in the region, including the Philippines and Japan, further solidifying its position as a key player in the global beef industry.

Original story by The Irish Times

 

Sysco Acquires Campbell’s Prime Meat in Strategic UK Expansion

Sysco, the global foodservice provider, has acquired Campbell’s Prime Meat in a strategic move to expand its footprint in the UK. This acquisition signals Sysco’s commitment to strengthening its supply chain and enhancing product offerings to UK customers, particularly within the hospitality, catering, and retail sectors[1].

Based in Linlithgow, Campbell’s Prime Meat serves a broad client base across Scotland and Northern England. The acquisition will allow Sysco to leverage Campbell’s local expertise, ensuring consistent quality and service for which Campbell’s has become renowned, while also tapping into Sysco’s extensive global network[1].

Tim Adams, CEO of Sysco UK, expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Campbell’s Prime Meat to the Sysco family. This acquisition not only strengthens our supply chain but also reflects our commitment to local sourcing, quality, and customer service. Campbell’s Prime Meat has a long-standing reputation for excellence, and we’re excited to build on that foundation to better serve our customers across the UK”[1].

James Campbell, CEO of Campbell’s Prime Meat, commented on the acquisition: “Joining Sysco is a tremendous opportunity for Campbell’s Prime Meat. With Sysco’s scale and resources, we can bring our products to a larger audience and continue to support our local suppliers. This acquisition also offers a growth platform for our employees and an ability to invest further in the communities we serve”[1].

The deal marks Sysco’s continued investment in the UK foodservice sector and demonstrates its ambition to be the leading supplier of choice, with a focus on sustainable and locally sourced products. The acquisition also adds to Sysco’s growing portfolio of partnerships and acquisitions across Europe, positioning it as a prominent competitor in the UK’s foodservice industry[1].

References

 

Whatsapp Help