By Henry Brooks
Smithfield Foods has completed its acquisition of Pini Group’s packaged meat companies in Poland. Now, Smithfield Poland will employ nearly 9,240 people, including approximately 240 former Pini employees. “This is a win-win for Smithfield, as well as Poland’s agricultural industry,” said president and CEO of Smithfield Foods, Kenneth Sullivan. “This move will help the Polish meat industry become more competitive across Europe and international markets.”
The firms will supply chicken into the UK market through the acquisition of Royal Chicken to the business, a green field investment project currently in development.
“Currently the UK imports close to 980,000 million tonnes of chicken each of chicken each year to keep up with demand,” said managing director Ian Lindsay. “We believe that demand for these types of products will continue to strengthen as consumers look for convenience in home, and higher expectations out of home.”
Other facilities acquired by Smithfield includes Pini Polska – a meat processing a packaging plant – and Hamburger Pini – a case ready meat plant. “This acquisition aligns with Smithfield’s strategic growth plans by strengthening our vertically-integrated supply chain in Poland and increasing our production of high-quality packaged meats products,” Kenneth Sullivan said. “It also capitalises on existing opportunities for us to expand in areas in areas with very attractive market dynamics and to develop scale over time.”
The acquired companies will be operated by Animex Foods, one of the largest food producers in Poland and part of Smithfield Poland.