Brazilian group buys major poultry processor Moy Park

Major poultry processor Moy Park is to join the Brazilian Marfrig Group, creating the ninth largest poultry processor in the world, processing more than 8.5m birds every week.

The sale of Moy Park by the Chicago based OSI Group will see its chicken businesses in both Brazil (Penasul and Braslo) and Europe join the Brazilian Marfrig Group.

Marfrig says it sees Moy Park’s operations and standing in the EU as a fundamental next stage in building its global supply base entirely bespoke to the customers needs for locally produced fresh chicken, along with South American beef, lamb, pork and many other added value food products.

The Brazilian group recently acquired two chicken companies in Brazil, namely Pena Branca and Dagranja. The addition of OSI’s substantial chicken businesses will further boost Marfrig’s position in fresh primary and further processed chicken as it has already done with red meat.

Moy Park managing director, Nigel Dunlop said of the new development: “To stay ahead these days requires a continual investment stream into both plant and people.

“We believe Marfrig will fully support us in achieving our ambitions across our operations in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands. This can only have the most positive benefits for our customers and everyone involved with Moy Park, now and in the future,” he said.

OSI acquired Moy Park in 1996 and the group acquired G W Padley Poultry in May 2004 and Dove Valley in July the same year.