Cargill is exploring opportunities in Philippines’ poultry sector ahead of the holiday season, said Asia Pacific region chair Alan Willits at an event in Manila
“We’re looking at getting into new things like poultry in the Philippines. We don’t have any presence here (in the poultry sector) at this point in time. So, that would be an area where we hope to make an investment in the near future,” said Willits.
Cargill is already established in China’s and Thailand's poultry sectors, he added. The company has invested close to US$300mn in China with a chicken production-to-processing line. In Thailand, Cargill is engaged in chicken processing, while production is commissioned to a third party.
In the Philippines, the demand for poultry products goes up during the holidays such as Christmas and New Year that are coming up, observed the Asia Pacific region chair. “For the Philippines, we will not be displacing those in the wet market but we will cater to the high-end market,” Willits added.
The company, however, hasn’t decided how to pursue opportunities in the poultry sector but Willits mentioned that they would be targeting supply fast food chains and similar business establishments in the country.
Cargill’s inroad to poultry follows its presence in animal nutrition. The company owns four feed mills in Villasis, Pangasinan, Baliuag and Pulilan in Bulacan; and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Aside from animal nutrition, Cargill has a copra crushing plant in General Santos City that produces crude coconut oil and copra meal for domestic and export markets; as well as a carageenan production plant in Canlubang, Laguna.
