Distributors sought in Europe for Portuguese meat products

Annotation

A producer group based in Portugal dealing with a traditional, exclusive meat breed from the Northern region (Minho) is in search of distribution partners in European countries. The group manufactures high quality veal meat, beef and processed products. International cooperation expected to provide collaborative business relationships that drive sales growth. Ideal partners in the EU are distributors and commercial agents with proven experience and expertise in the agro-food industry.

Offer description

The Northern region of Portugal is characterized by a mountain ecology, with irregular temperatures, rainfall and atmospheric humidity throughout the year. The soils are favorable for permanent meadows and pastures. Minhota breed cows and calves benefit from the local edapho-climatic conditions and the greater quantity and quality of the pastures on which animals are fed (fresh grass, hay, silage or straw), increasing milk production and consequently calf daily liveweight gain. Calving takes place throughout the year. Calves are fed milk from the day they are born. Young calves are then put out to pasture and feed independently on grass. Calves are gradually introduced to concentrates. The breed stands out for its high productive performance. The excellent quality of the meat produced is determined by the combined effects of flavor, juiciness, and tenderness. Strict quality and control standards in all products and procedures and high sanitary and hygienic standards are followed. Traceability is also ensured. Calf welfare is critical at all stages of their lives, and so animals are visited and monitored by the team and vets on a regular basis. Products are currently being sold to Portuguese retailers. The group is also selling into the food retail market leader in Portugal. The company is now looking to expand presence across Europe.

Innovations and advantages

One of the company’s main concerns is the inbreeding control. The company has been introducing genetic improvement of the breed for the last ten years combining this investment with the maintenance of the characteristics of this indigenous breed and the pasture management system. They believe that the meat quality results from the animals’ genotypes, from the environment and from the production system and work on these criteria to ensure the quality and typicity of their production. Their ultimate goal is the testing and selection of future breeding animals, as well as the breeding animals with an interesting pedigree for the breed improvement. The company is also focused on semen sales for crossbreeding purposes. This is a breed with a twofold aptitude and therefore, in the near future, the group also intends to work on the characterization and quantification of milk production.

Technology keywords

08001004 Food Processing
08002003 Safe production methods
08002004 Traceability of food

Market application codes

07003002 Health food
09003004 Distributors, imports and wholesalers
09004008 Other manufacturing (not elsewhere classified)

Comments, number and date of patent

Protected Designation of Origin - POD - applied for but not yet granted

Profile date

16.03.2019