São Paulo – BRF of Brazil, the biggest poultry exporting company in the world, is shipping product as usual, despite the effects of coronavirus on the global economy and logistics. “When it comes to exports, all product is getting shipped as usual thus far,” BRF told ANBA this Friday (27) when inquired about its sales to Arab countries.
Meat packer Marfrig told ANBA that its units are still at work amid the pandemic, to put food on the table for Brazilians and millions other people in over 100 different countries. Minerva, another meat packer, has workers at four of its plants on paid leave.
BRF said it has a “contingency plan in place to keep operations going in Brazil and the world.” It also said business is as usual at its “industrial complexes, distribution and logistics centers, supply chains and back offices,” and that its manufacturing, operation and sales schedule is unchanged.
The poultry supplier said it keeps shipping, and that it is carefully and continuously looking into all variables and potential outcomes via a permanent multidisciplinary committee of executives and renowned specialists, including infectious disease experts. In addition to shipping from Brazil to the Arab countries, BRF owns a processing plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE and is expected to open another one in Saudi Arabia.
Marfrig released a statement telling its clients, workers and consumers that it pledges to operate its manufacturing and distribution units in line with protocols from healthcare authorities in each of the countries it’s active in. “At this time, Marfrig plants in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and United States are entirely operational. We will work tirelessly to keep them that way, thereby doing our share to make sure there’s no shortage of meat for local buyers as well as those who rely on exports.”
Minerva said it has put workers on paid leave at its plants in Janaúba, Minas Gerais; José Bonifácio, São Paulo; and Mirassol D´Oeste and Paranatinga, Mato Grosso. Its back-office staff in São Paulo and Barretos are working from home, in line with authorities’ efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in Brazil.
“This move is also owed to a deteriorating domestic and scenario, with slumping demand for food services and logistics shortcomings in many places around the world.” Food services have been advertised as one of the primary niches for Minerva on many occasions. Restaurants and away-from-home meal suppliers have been shut down in many countries, as a response to coronavirus, and many are doing delivery only. Minerva vowed to put in place measures to support its food services clients and logistics operators.
JBS, another industry player, said it would be unable to speak with ANBA.
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) said “the poultry, egg and pork industries in Brazil are committed to keeping a steady stream of food items available to the Brazilian population amid the Covid-19 crisis.” The Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec) guaranteed that both domestic and foreign beef supplies will be available.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
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