Gradus invests to meet EU poultry demands

EU - Meat Processor Gradus has opened the largest poultry slaughterhouse in South-East Europe as part of its plans to modify its infrastructure to cope with EU requirements.

The Company hopes the new €18m site, capable of processing between 8000 and 9000 chickens per hour, will allow them to take advantage of the country’s EU membership to establish itself amongst a growing number of trade partners.

The news marks a turnaround for poultry production in the country, which has been badly hit by the outset of the HN51 Avian Influenza virus.

“In 2005, just before the outset of Avian Influenza sales of chicken meat, exceeded red meat for the first time in its country’s history,” explained Yavor Jekov, marketing manager of Gradus.

Problems with food safety in poultry and outbreaks of Newcastle disease however, resulted in an EU-wide ban of the country’s poultry which looks likely to continue past its accession on January 1 2007. Domestic demand was also affected as a result.

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Source: cee-foodindustry.com

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