HKScan, the Finnish food producer, said it started exporting pork from Forssa, Finland to China in April 2018.
During its first six months, meaty bones and feet, which are highly valued and important raw ingredients in Chinese cuisine, have been included in the container shipments to China.
“Exports to China have got off to a good start and we are excited about this significant step. HKScan is one of the first Finnish companies to operate in the premium category in the Chinese market,” said Jukka Nikkinen, head of HKScan exports.
“Now we can start the customer presentations of the premium products selection and concept. Production will commence in Haiyan, China, in the upcoming weeks. The product selection consists of tasty and tender Omega-3 Pork products that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.”
A joint venture with Nordic Lotus Food Co, HKScan & Zhejiang Qinglian Food, was officially registered at the end of September 2018, to sell and market premium products to the Chinese market.
HKScan’s aim is to ship roughly three million kilograms of pork to China during the first year and to triple that volume by 2020. The targeted export volume for the first year is 3,000 tonnes of pork meat, with plans to triple that volume by 2020.
HKScan’s products will be targeted at the Chinese retail sector, industrial customers and the HoReCa sector.
The Chinese food authorities have granted an export permit to HKScan’s Forssa plant.
The packaging and products have been designed for the Chinese market to clearly stand out from what is currently on offer, HKScan said.
“We are proud to be bringing to Chinese consumers meat that is delicious, healthy and safe and produced with professional expertise at HKScan’s contracted family farms,” said Nikkinen.
“Our exciting packaging will surely stand out on the shelf. It’ll be great to see in practice how we can create significant added value for the world-class work of Finnish producers of pork.”
HKScan currently exports meat to nearly 50 countries. This includes pork exported to numerous EU countries as well as to New Zealand and Japan.