Cargill Joy Poultry Meats Production Inc., a joint venture of Cargill Inc. of the US and Jollibee Foods Corp., on Tuesday inaugurated the largest poultry processing plant in Santo Tomas, Batangas.
Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the plant would have a capacity of 45 million chicken per year, making it the biggest in the country.
“We are bringing protein to family’s tables across the Philippines. Cargill and Jollibee came together to start this plant because of our common commitment to the highest standards in product quality and food safety. This is reflected in this new plant which harnesses technology and global experience to deliver tasty chicken products in an environment which is safe for our employees and is environmentally sustainable,” C-Joy president and chief executive Paul Fullbright said.
The new poultry processing facilities will not only ensure the ample supply of dressed and marinated chicken of various brands under Jollibee group, but will also offer income opportunities to local poultry farmers in Batangas and nearby provinces as they will be able to supply the chickens to be processed at the JFC facility.
Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong said the partnership with Cargill would ensure the supply of high-quality chicken products through Cargill’s technology and quality standards.
“The facility will provide JFC with dressed and marinated chicken to augment the chicken supply requirements of the growing needs of JFC brands. This partnership will meaningfully benefit our customers, our operations as well as the overall Philippine food industry,” Tanmantiong said
“We will continue to maintain our strong relationship with key chicken suppliers in the country and look forward to sustained long-term supply arrangements with them as our businesses grow together,” he said.
Jollibee earlier said it would invest P244.9 million for 30 percent of C-Joy. The fast food chain will also invest P15.2 million for 30 percent of Cargill Joy Poultry Realty Inc., from which C-Joy will lease the land for the plant.
The Jollibee group is one of the largest buyers of chicken in the Philippines. Its brands Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Greenwich and Burger King franchise sell significant volume of chicken products.
Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world.
Cargill started its Philippine business in 1947 when its vegetable oil division started buying copra for export to the United States. Its operations include grain and oilseed originating and processing, commercial feeds manufacturing, texturizing and sweeteners solutions for food and beverage applications.