Booming meat plant to play key role in Russian turkey surge
Meat giant Cherkizovo Group’s vertically integrated turkey facility in Tambov is responsible for around a fifth of the turkey meat produced in Russia, but Cherkizovo chiefs said this could be increased to just under half.
Producing around 50,000 tonnes (t) of turkey meat per year in Tambov, Cherkizovo said its factory has the capacity to reach 100,000t within the next 12 months.
As a whole, Russia produced around 230,000t of turkey meat last year, according to the company.
Big ‘potential’
Its statement of intent comes after the huge facility in south-eastern Russia hit full production capacity five years after Cherkizovo entered into a joint venture with Grupo Fuertes in 2012 to build a scalable turkey plant.
Investment in the factory is close to RUB10.2 billion ($179m) and the firm said it expected any return on investment to take approximately eight years, but it sees huge potential in the plant.
“Turkey meat has great potential on the Russian market and total turkey meat production in Russia was about 230,000t in 2016,” said Sergey Mikhailov, general director of Cherkizovo.
“Tambov Turkey added another 50,000t today and can double the install capacity up to 100,000t. This is a serious step on the way to Russian food security and towards developing its export opportunities over the long run.”
The project has made Cherkizovo one of the largest turkey producers in Russia and allows Spanish partner Grupo Fuertes to dip its toe into the Russian market.
Every aspect of production is controlled, as the facility includes a feed mill, hatcheries, breeding facilities, fattening and rearing sites, alongside high slaughter and processing capabilities. This allows full control of biosecurity and welfare, protecting both the health and housing conditions of its livestock.
