BRF logo at Curitiba headquarters
By Ana Mano
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – BRF is optimistic about the reopening of China after the New Year celebrations signaled a return to normality in the food import giant, the company’s CEO Miguel Gularte said at an event on Tuesday. said China’s consumer behavior has returned to pre-pandemic patterns, citing travel and people eating out during the Chinese holiday.
He added that BRF has made investments during the pandemic and is prepared to meet the increased demand for food.
Gularte, who took control of the company in August, said the positive outlook comes amid the restructuring of the BRF.
“We have the peace of mind of knowing that what we produce, we are going to sell,” he said. “It’s an industry where demand outstrips supply.”
The board pointed out that BRF had done its homework after years of management changes and poor operational performance. He said the company was ready “to develop and create value”.
As part of the turnaround, Gularte said BRF is committed to making operations more flexible, meaning the company intends to seize food sales opportunities more quickly, whether in the domestic or foreign market.
This, together with continuous internal operational improvements, will enable BRF to transform faster than the market has accepted, Gularte said. The company is the world’s largest chicken exporter.
Over the years, competition from slaughterhouses such as JBS and the bad decisions of its managers have caused the company to lose some of its prominence, although it remains large.
Gularte said that BRF slaughters 10 million pigs a year and 1.5 billion chickens.
In addition to China, the Middle East will continue to be a priority market for BRF, where it is one of the main suppliers of halal food, which is produced in accordance with the requirements of the Muslim religion.
He added that the region’s economies are less susceptible to turmoil, helping BRF capitalize on where it is already strong.
The company processes pork and poultry and gets most of its revenue from Brazil, where it plans to increase market share for its well-known Sadia, Perdigão and Qualy brands, the CEO added.