The result of an association between Perdigao and Sadia, the creation of BRF Brasil Foods was a landmark event for the Brazilian food industry in 2009. Brasil Foods begins its corporate existence ranked among the largest global players in the food sector, underscoring Brazil's position as a power in the agribusiness sector.

With sales of BRR24.4 billion and a market capitalization of US$11.4 billion, reported in 2009, Brasil Foods is the fourth largest Brazilian exporter, the world's largest exporter of poultry meat and the largest global protein company by market capitalisation.

Since its announcement, the association has progressed within the parameters of the Transaction Reversibility Preservation Agreement (APRO) signed with the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), the Brazilian anti-trust authority.

The public offering concluded during the year for supporting the operations of the new company exceeded expectations, raising BRR5.3 billion. The success of this operation, together with the recent bond issue of US$750 million, has been instrumental in Brasil Foods beginning 2010 with a solid cash position.

In 2009, Brasil Foods completed some important stages for sustaining an innovative company on a solid base – a company that anticipates the future, guaranteeing scale and efficiency in order to compete with the international giants and contributing to an increasingly robust Brazilian economy.

Balance sheet records profit of BRR360 million

In 2009, Brasil Foods' net sales surpassed the BRR20.9 billion mark. Adjusted net income was BRR360 million considering pro-forma results, that is the fully consolidated figures for Sadia (a wholly owned subsidiary) and its controlled companies shown as if the merger of shares had taken place on 1 January 2008.

The domestic market reported an excellent operating result, accounting for 58 per cent of net sales and equivalent to revenues of approximately BRR15.3 billion. The processed/elaborated meats business registered the best performance with net sales of BRR8 billion, corresponding to a growth of 9.5 per cent in relation to the preceding fiscal year.

The results for Brasil Foods' exports reflect the adverse international scenario, which triggered a sharp decline in prices and volume. The situation was further aggravated by an extremely volatile foreign exchange market as well as cost and expense pressures along the entire production chain, among other factors impacting this segment. During the year, company exports reached about BRR9.2 billion.