Plans to help French pig farmers “reconquer markets currently supplied by imports” are on target for an April 1, 2016, launch, report the French and German companies behind the project.
Having announced a pigmeat-based joint-venture in October last year, the French meat company, Avril, and the German processor, Tönnies, have now revealed that their ambitions are set to become a “reality” through a €5 million (£3.85m) investment in a new plant in Normandy.
Called “L’Atelier des Viandes de France”, the new plant is designed to “combine the skills and expertise of both partners” by becoming an ultra-modern butchery and processing plant.
“It will enable the creation of 60 jobs and offer new market prospects for the French pork sector and its pig breeders, who are struggling in a difficult economic climate,” said an Avril spokesman.
“The objective of the new plant is to allow (French) breeders to reconquer markets currently supplied by imports, and enable the food industry to offer products to consumers that meet their expectations.”
The development is still subject to gaining the final approval from the EU competition authorities, however. A decision from Brussels is believed to be imminent.