Dear readers,
We share only good news from our industry in the holiday period:
- In reaction to the African Swine Fever(ASF), the operations of the Catalan government continue around the clock, every day of the week, involving the organized efforts of Rural Agents, the Mossos d’Esquadra (the police force of Catalonia), Civil Protection, local law enforcement, the ADF (Forest Fire Prevention Association), personnel from the Collserola Natural Park, and various other supportive organizations. The Catalan government has permitted the acquisition of three mobile disinfection units for trucks and two portable systems. This machinery will facilitate the establishment of high-capacity mobile disinfection locations in remote areas and guarantee the safety of the personnel engaged. This machinery can effectively disinfect vehicles, individuals, dogs, and equipment, in addition to treating contaminated zones, thus guaranteeing continuous service. This capability is vital for a team where numerous personnel are dispatched daily with regular shifts. Simultaneously, the Rural Agents Corps is strengthening its oversight abilities by incorporating two advanced drones into the Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit. These drones enhance the detection of wildlife, aid in locating carcasses, and track potential outbreaks in both open spaces and challenging-to-reach locations, supplementing both ground surveillance efforts and canine teams.
- What do you do, when the sector is in crisis? You invest! The Spanish GAM Family group—comprised of Goikoa, Los Alecos, and Alejandro Miguel—has introduced its strategic plan for the years 2025 to 2030, which involves an investment of €50 million. The group seeks to elevate its yearly earnings from the current €335 million to €450 million by the conclusion of this period. CEO Alberto Jiménez states that the strategy will emphasize enhancing operational efficiency and promoting organic growth, explicitly excluding the possibility of constructing new production sites. A key aspect of this expansion will be the increase of the number of its breeding sows from 17,000 presently to 25,000 by the year 2030, which will facilitate an annual yield of 625,000 Duroc piglets. This development is expected to boost the sales of both fresh and processed items from its various production facilities. Currently, the company markets 11,000 tons of processed meat products along with 560,000 hams each year. The planned €50 million investment will be directed towards initiatives in sustainability (such as solar panel installations), technology (through automation of processes to enhance profitability), and genetics (to improve the quality of both its white and Iberian pig herds). Duroc is tending to become a pork branding tool.
- BOSQAR INVEST Croatia has revealed that it has put forth a binding proposal to the Fortenova group for the planned acquisition of the complete ownership of PIK Vrbovec. Fortenova group has accepted of this binding proposal and stated that based on the outlined commercial conditions, they will proceed with discussions to finalize the transaction documentation. The proposed acquisition will be executed through BOSQAR’s Future Food division, which includes Panvita, a prominent Slovenian agri-food entity, along with Mlinar, a top bakery company within the Adria region. PIK Vrbovec stands as one of Croatia’s key food manufacturing enterprises and is the largest producer of meat and processed meats in the nation. With revenues amounting to 337 million euros and a workforce of approximately 1500 employees, PIK Vrbovec also exports to about 20 different international markets.
Events calendar:
- SIAL India is the country’s premier international B2B trade show for food and beverages and part of the globally renowned SIAL network (“Salon International de l’Alimentation”), known for its innovation, industry leadership, and top-tier events worldwide. The event takes place at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on 3 days from Friday, 10. April to Sunday, 12. April 2026.
- The “Live Stock” is held at the Brno Exhibition Center in the Czech Republic and is the largest event of its kind in the country. This trade fair attracts industry experts such as farmers, breeders, veterinarians, and other professionals who want to learn about the latest trends and technologies in livestock farming. The fair will take place on 3 days from Sunday, 12. April to Tuesday, 14. April 2026 in Brno.
- SALÓN GOURMETS Spain is Europe’s leading trade fair for high-quality food and beverages, making it an essential industry event for professionals in fine foods, gastronomy, hospitality, and retail. Held at the IFEMA exhibition center in Madrid, the fair will take place on 4 days from Monday, 13. April to Thursday, 16. April 2026 .
- The Farm Shop & Deli Show, an integral part of the UK Food & Drink Shows, is a prestigious trade fair dedicated entirely to the specialty retail sector. It takes place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham on 3 days from Monday, 13. April to Wednesday, 15. April 2026.
I publish weekly articles about the pig industry for over 6 years. While there is also a regular comment section, a few times a year I keep only the good news: Christmas, New Year and the Ester holidays.
Happy Easter to those celebrating now!
