Cargill and Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) broke ground earlier this month on a new poultry processing facility in Santo Tomas, Batangas, in the Philippines. The new plant will be the largest of its kind in the Philippines and is expected to process 45 million chickens per year to meet increasing consumer demand.

The plant, which is expected to begin operations in the last quarter of next year, will create an estimated 1,000 new full-time jobs and develop new opportunities in the farming community in Batangas and nearby provinces as local poultry farmers are contracted to grow chicken to supply the requirements of the processing plant. The facility will provide JFC with dressed and marinated chicken to augment the chicken supply requirements of the increasing needs of JFC brands.

Cargill and Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) recently broke ground on the largest poultry processing plant in the Philippines in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Leading the event were (from L-R): Cargill’s country representative Philip Soliven, president of Cargill Protein Southeast Asia Hans Kabat, managing director of the joint venture C-Joy Poultry Meats Production Paul Fullbright, deputy chief of mission of the U.S. Embassy Michael Klecheski, Batangas governor Hermilando Mandanas, Santo Tomas vice mayor Armenius Silva, and JFC’s chief business support officer Fernando Siy Yu Jr. Source: Cargill

Paul Fullbright, managing director of the joint venture C-Joy Poultry Meats Production, said, "This is a significant moment for Cargill as we start construction of our first poultry processing facility in the Philippines in partnership with Jollibee."

Fullbright said the plant will be built to the highest standards in efficiency, employee safety and environmental sustainability. “As Cargill does everywhere we do business, we will contribute in improving the system of hygiene, food safety and quality in this world-class facility, and we look forward to having a high level of partnership ‎with the poultry growers and farmers," he said. "The facility is a testament to the importance of the Philippines for Cargill and our continued commitment to invest in the country.”

Fernando Siy Yu Jr., JFC chief business support officer, said JFC is looking forward to completion of the poultry processing facility and the start of operations and emphasized, “This plant, which will provide JFC with dressed and marinated chicken, will augment the chicken supply to the fast-growing JFC brands.”

Additionally, he said the partnership will meaningfully benefit JFC’s customers, its operations and the overall Philippine food industry. “We will continue to maintain our strong relationship with key chicken suppliers in the country and look forward to sustained long-term supply arrangements with them as our businesses grow together,” he said.