Aviagen and Zarbal Celebrate 25 Years of Ross Growth in Iran
A record number of over 400 delegates gathered in Tehran recently to reflect on 25 years of cooperation between Aviagen® and its Ross® distributor for Iran, Zarbal GP Company.The seminar, entitled “Production and Health in the Broiler Industry,” provided a platform for Zarbal parent stock and broiler customers to celebrate the success of the brand in the country and to learn more about best practice management for their Ross flocks.
Representatives from Aviagen and Zarbal presented on a range of topics, including egg handling, research and development and the Iran broiler industry.
Dr. Ali Baghbanzadeh, Zarbal GP managing director, talked about the strength of the Ross brand and its ongoing growth and success story in Iran. Baghbanzadeh paid special credit to David Butler, former Aviagen technical director, and other key personnel for their important roles in the early development of Ross in the country and for the strong relationships they have developed with the Zarbal team over the years. Finally, there was a presentation of Flock Awards to recognize and reward the achievements of Ross customers in the region.
Zarbal’s dedication to the Ross brand has led to an increase in market share in Iran from 0 to 70 percent over the past 25 years. The recipe for Zarbal’s success is based on the distributor’s commitment to continually investing in facilities, people and customer support: Notable investments in physical assets include the building of a new $10 million grandparent (GP) hatchery in 2011 and, more recently, farm ventilation improvements, renovations of existing farms as well as investments in information technology, personnel education and welfare.
“Reaching 25 years of cooperation is a fantastic achievement, one which would not have been possible if it weren’t for the close ties and support shared between Zarbal and Aviagen,” said Baghbanzadeh. “The strength of the Ross product and the customer service provided by Aviagen have gone a long way to ensure the success of the Ross brand in Iran.”
During the seminar, Tom Exley, Aviagen president of international business, addressed attendees on the history of Aviagen’s cooperation with Iran and Zarbal, reflecting on some of the key milestones from the past 25 years. He commented, “Our strategic relationship is based on shared values, vision and principles and it is because of this we are celebrating such a fantastic anniversary. Zarbal’s loyalty and dedication to concrete investment in the Ross brand has been outstanding, with an exemplary customer service team, state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to providing tailored customer support.”
About Aviagen
Since 1923, Aviagen® has established itself as the world's leading poultry breeding company, developing pedigree lines for the production of commercial broiler chickens under the Arbor Acres®, Indian River®, and Ross® brand names. The Rowan Range® and Specialty Males® are specialty breeding stock from Aviagen that offer greater flexibility for customers to meet specific or niche market requirements. The company is based in Huntsville, Alabama, USA with a number of wholly-owned operations across the United Kingdom, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., and joint ventures in Asia. Aviagen employs more than 3,900 people and has a distribution network serving customers in more than 100 countries.
For further information, please visit www.aviagen.com.