Top 11 European poultry producers

Europe's broiler producers continue to invest and expand, but which European chicken companies are the biggest?

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Europe’s poultry companies continue to invest and grow, focusing both on home and overseas markets. (D-Keine | iStock.com)
Europe’s poultry companies continue to invest and grow, focusing both on home and overseas markets. (D-Keine | iStock.com)

Spread across the continent, the 11 biggest poultry companies in Europe slaughter in excess of 3.7 billion birds annually.

The smallest in the ranking, slaughters less than half the number of chickens slaughtered by Europe's market leader France’s LDC, yet each company processes enough birds each year to gain an individual place in the World’s Top 50 Broiler Producers ranking, compiled by WATT Global Media each year.

This diversity of scale is also echoed in a diversity of approach, with some companies firmly focusing on their home markets while others straddle numerous countries. Similarly, some are primarily focused on broiler production while for others chicken is simply part of a much broader portfolio, in some cases including rabbit or vegetable oil production.

Some have grown remarkably quickly over recent decades, while for others a slow and steady approach has helped to ensure success.

Chicken production is a common thread that unites these businesses. Where they also find common ground is in their approach to the future, with most having made significant investments in expansion in recent years, either through building new capacity or acquiring other companies.

Despite this positive approach to the industry and the success enjoyed by these businesses, it is worth remembering that no European company is big enough to appear among the top 10 global players and that the combined production of the 11 leading European companies still falls behind that of global market leader JBS which slaughters 3.5 billion birds annually.

1. LDC

Founded in 1968, France’s LDC is Europe’s largest broiler producer. The company slaughters 541.2 million chickens annually and is also active in the pork, beef, rabbit and cereals sectors. It has 22,000 employees and 86 production sites spread across France, Spain and Poland.

For 2018, the company recorded turnover of EUR4.1 billion (US$4.6 billion) and an operating profit of EUR190.1 million. 

LDC’s poultry sales on the home market account for close to 60% of turnover, while its foreign operations contribute over 8%. Exports account for in excess of 10% of turnover.

2. Plukon Food Group

Europe’s second largest broiler producer is Plukon Food Group of the Netherlands.

Most recent data shows the company slaughtered 426.4 million broilers across its operations in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France and Poland. With a staff of 5,000, the company operates 11 poultry processing plants and seven processing and packing plants.

In 2018, the company purchased a majority stake in Poland’s L&B Wyrebski and inaugurated a new greenfield site. This followed its 2017 purchase of leading French poultry producer Duc, which has undergone a significant restructure.

3. Cherkizovo Group

Slaughtering 387 million head a year, Russia’s Cherkizovo Group is Europe’s third largest poultry producer and occupies the top spot on its home market for both poultry and meat production.

The company was set up in 1974 as the Cherkizovsky Meat Processing plant and has grown to become Russia’s number one poultry producer, the country’s second largest pork producer and its third largest turkey producer.

In 2018, Cherkizovo saw poultry meat production rise by 4% to 544,000 tons. This accounted for 53% of the company’s total meat output by volume and 42% by value, worth RUB53.8 billion (US$873 million). 

4. Guppo Veronesi

Italy’s Gruppo Veronesi, owner of Agricola Italiana Alimentare, slaughters 350 million broilers annually.

In addition to chicken production, the company is active in egg, rabbit, pork and beef production as well as feed and cured meats. With over 8,400 employees, all of the company’s production is based in its home market.

Group sales for 2018 were reported as being EUR2.97 billion, with exports contributing to only 16% of the total.

4. PHW Group

PHW, which slaughters 350 million broilers annually, is Germany’s largest poultry producer and owner of the brand Weisenhof, producing chicken, turkey and ducks; the company ties for the fourth position in the list of European rankings.

With approximately 7,000 employees, the company also operates in the animal feed and health and human nutrition and healthcare sectors, which comprises 35 independent firms. The group saw total sales rise by 4.1% in 2018 to stand at EUR2.58 billion.

Most recent figures show that, on the home market, Wiesenhof has an annual turnover of a little over EUR1.4 million, while the company’s breeding operations achieved sales of EUR120.2 million.

6. MHP

Ukraine is home to Europe’s sixth largest poultry producer MHP which slaughters 349 million broilers annually. Its poultry division, in operation for a little over 20 years, accounts for more than 80% of sales for the company and has captured more than 50% of the local market.

For the first 9 months of 2019, the company produced 540,133 tons of poultry meat, an increase of 18% from the same period the year before. Revenues at the company rose by 33% to US$1.5 billion.

The company has grown both organically and through acquisitions over recent years. In 2019, it completed the acquisition of the largest poultry producer in the Balkans, Perutnina Ptuj.

7. 2 Sisters Food Group

2 Sisters Food Group is one of the U.K.’s largest food producers and one of the country’s largest privately held companies. Slaughtering 323 million broilers annually, it supplies about one-third of the poultry products sold in the U.K. It also operates a European poultry division, primarily supplying the U.K., operating from six sites in the Netherlands and Germany. In 2018, the company exited its red meat operations.

8. Moy Park

Slaughtering 312 million birds yearly, the U.K.’s Moy Park can trace its roots back to 1943 and is now part of Pilgrim’s Pride owned by JBS. The company operates 12 processing and manufacturing sites in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands.

Its portfolio comprises fresh and value-added poultry, ready meals, pre-cooked meals, breaded and frozen food, beef and pork products, vegetarian foods and desserts. Additionally, it raises about 25% of Western Europe’s broiler parent stock.

9. Amadori

Italy’s Amadori slaughters 250 million broilers per year. In addition to fresh and frozen chicken, the company produces turkey and meat products such as sausages, meatballs, burgers and chicken nuggets. It also produces and distributes eggs.

In operation for over 40 years, the company employs over 7,000 workers across its divisions.

10. GAP Resurs

Russia’s GAP Resurs slaughters 228.6 million broilers annually and has been expanding both organically and through acquisitions. In addition to chicken, the company is also active in cereal and vegetable oil production. Since its establishment in 2003, poultry meat output has grown continuously and stood at 615,000 tons live weight in 2018.

11. Prioskolye

Russia’s Prioskolye slaughters 223 million broilers a year and also produces turkey, table eggs and egg products. The company has grown out of a bankrupt poultry business taken over in 2003.

Europe's-leading-poultry-producers

The combined output of the largest 11 European broiler companies is still below that of global leader Brazil’s JBS. (WATT Global Media)

 

To access the World Top Companies database in full, go to:

www.WATTAgNet.com/directories/80

 

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