In 2020, Latin America’s 10 leading broiler producers slaughtered almost 7 billion birds, accounting for 56% of the region’s total.
By output, Brazil dominates the region, being home to two of the world’s largest poultry companies – JBS and BRF. However, the country is also the face of co-operativism, with three of the five Brazilian companies featured in this top 10 being cooperatives.
The region’s other notable characteristic is that it has several companies with operations across numerous countries. JBS may the best known in this regard; however, Cargill Protein Latin America produces broilers in four countries, CMI in four Central American nations and Grupo Tres Arroyos in two. In addition, BRF and Bachoco also have operations outside of Latin America.
There is considerable concentration in the Latin American market. The top three companies – two Brazilian and one Mexican – produce 5.4 billion broilers between them and account for 77% of the top 10’s combined output.
Only Brazil’s JBS and BRF produce over 1 billion birds annually. For the remainder, mergers or acquisitions would be the most likely way to gain significant ground on the two leading companies.
Over the past five years, all of the top 10 companies have recorded some degree of growth. The two Brazilian giants, JBS and BRF, grew by 27% and 46%, respectively, over the period, while Argentina’s Grupo Tres Arroyos expanded by almost 50%. Output at Cargill Protein Latin America doubled, largely due to the purchase of two Colombian companies, Pollos Bucanero and Campollo. For most of the remaining top 10 companies growth has been much more conservative.
1. JBS (Seara Alimentos)
Brazil’s JBS is not only the world’s largest chicken producer and processor, but also the world’s largest protein supplier and the second-largest global food company. Latest data indicate that JBS produces 2.6 billion broilers within Latin America and 4.4 billion broilers globally per annum. Within Brazil alone, the company operates 30 poultry processing units, 14 distribution centers and 21 processed food units. It’s local Seara division derives 57% of sales from poultry, and 25% of production is exported. Its most iconic brands are Seara, Seara Gourmet, Da Granja, Big Frango, Rezende, and LeBon. JBS owns Pilgrim’s Pride, producing processed chicken products, in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico, and operates 36 processing plants across these countries. Pilgrim’s Mexico is Mexico’s second-largest broiler producer, processing 580 million broilers in 2020. With 630,000 employees in its home market, JBS is also active in pork and processed foods and exports to more than 140 markets.
Pilgrims-Mexico-packaged-chicken
Pilgrim’s Mexico, Mexico’s second largest broiler producer, is a division of Latin America’s largest broiler producer, Brazilian JBS. Benjamín Ruiz
2. BRF
Brazil’s BRF is the second largest broiler producer in the world, producing 2.19 broilers in 2020 and 7 million turkeys. The company works with Burger King, McDonald’s, Subway, Popeye and Yum, both in Brazil and abroad, and has a particularly strong innovation department. The company exports to more than 140 countries and, it is said that, if the company were a country, it would be the world’s seventh largest boiler producer by volume.
3. Industrias Bachoco
Mexico’s Industrias Bachoco produced 620 million broilers in 2020. It is the third largest broiler company in Latin America and has achieved a 40% market share in its home market. The company is unusual in that, not only is it a top 10 regional broiler producer but also a top 10 egg producer, owning 12.2 million layers. Bachoco has over 1,000 production and distribution facilities organized into nine complexes throughout Mexico and has recently expanded its swine production and processing operations. In the U.S, the company owns OK Foods and Morris Hatchery.
Bachoco-packaged-chicken
Mexico’s Bachoco, the region’s third largest broiler producer, is also on of the 10 largest egg producers in Latin America. Benjamín Ruiz
4. Aurora Alimentos
Recording 365 million head slaughtered in 2020, Aurora Alimentos is one of Brazil’s largest industrial conglomerates. Aurora is a co-operative with 13 affiliated unions, over 100,000 members with 40,000 employees. In addition to chicken, the company also produces pork, dairy products and feed. The company exports tp over 70 countries across all continents.
5. Grupo San Fernando
Peru’s largest poultry producer, Grupo San Fernando, slaughtered 250 million broilers in 2020, along with 3.75 million turkeys. It primarily produces live chickens, with only 20% of output further processed. The company has become a traditional brand name in Peru and operates most of its farms close to its largest market, capital Lima. The company also has 0.5 million layers in production along with 3,000 sows.
Grupo-San-Fernando-packaged-chicken
Peru’s Grupo San Fernando sells primarily live birds with only 20% of output further processed. Benjamín Ruiz
6. Cargill Protein Latin America
Honduras’ Cargill Protein Latin America produces 235 million broilers, and has operations across Latin America. In its home market it also owns Alcon S.A., the second largest Honduran poultry producer, along with Tip Top Industrial, Nicaragua’s largest poultry company. In 2018, the company acquired Pollos El Bucanero and Campollo, two leading producers in Colombia. Following these purchases the company adopted the name Cargill Protein Latin America and abandoned its former name Cargill Meats Centroamérica to better reflect its expanded interests. The company has maintained local brand names due to their strong recognition. Cargill has deli meat and egg operations in its home market and in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
7. Copacol
Copacol, which produced 200 million broilers last year, is one of Brazil’s leading poultry slaughterers and processors. It is a cooperative consisting of 6,000 members, the majority of which are small farmers, and has 11,000 employees. The company exports over 40% of production to 40 countries. In 2018, it opened an office in Dubai with responsibility for the entire Middle East and North Africa as part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its position in the region. Copacol also produces pork, milk and fish.
8.CMI Alimentos
Guatemala’s CMI Alimentos produced 184 million broilers across its operations last year. The company comprises the operations of Guatemala’s former Avícola Villalobos, El Salvador’s Avícola Salvadoreña and Hondura’s Cadeca. It also has operations in Costa Rica. The company is fully integrated with operations extending to Central America’s largest fast-food chain Pollo Campero. The company owns an extensive portfolio of chicken products, sold under various brand names, and produces other food products, such as pasta and processed meats.
9. Grupo Tres Arroyos
Argentina’s leading poultry producer Grupo Tres Arroyos produces 174 million broilers per annum. The company has grown both organically and through several acquisitions and operates a fully integrated business in Uruguay producing almost an additional 10 million broilers. Grupo Tres Arroyos has operations small grandparent stock through to further processing, and 30% of output is exported. The company also produces high-quality rendered products for animal nutrition.
10. Lar Cooperativa Agroindustrial
Brazil’s Lar Cooperativa Agroindustrial produces 180 million broilers. The company produces cuts authorized in over 80 countries. The coop has 22,100 employees and in 2018 took over the operations of Globoaves Brasil. In addition to poultry, the cooperative’s members produce eggs, pork, feed, and crops. Lar has 36 production units and owns its own supermarket chain.
