Perdigao

Company Profile

Perdigão is one of the largest food companies and exporters in Latin America, dedicated to raising, producing and slaughtering poultry. The company also processes frozen pastas, soybeans and their derivatives, and distributes frozen vegetables. Its core business is directed to chilled and frozen food. It all started in 1934, when two families of Italian immigrants have established the company in the countryside of Santa Catarina, Southern region in Brazil, where the geographical and climatic conditions are perfect for agriculture.

Since the early beginning, the entrepreneur spirit, the ongoing concern upon quality, and the fulfillment of the consumer needs have driven the company's growth. In 1939, the company started its industrial activities by a hog slaughterhouse, and in 1955, its activities of poultry slaughter. This was the beginning of the path that led it to become the large company that it is presently.

Perdigão was one of the pioneers on chicken meat exports, participating in 1974 in a project that had Saudi Arabia as destination. In the 80's decennium, Borella and Sulina slaughterhouses have been acquired. During this decade, the company developed and launched the Chester® brand, one of the oldest and most valuable brands of the company. In 2000, Batávia slaughterhouse has been acquired, starting its turkey operation.

During 1994, the company's entire distribution fleet was outsourced, reducing costs and speeding up the logistic services. These examples illustrate some outstanding moments of this successful history, which reached to the peak by the opening of the Rio Verde Agroindustrial Complex - Latin America's largest slaughterhouse in 2003, and is responsible for 25% of the Company’s installed capacity. Since April 2004, Perdigão started undergoing further expansion.

Since 1994, Perdigão's share interest was transferred to a pension funds' group, and the company's management was professionalized.

The company currently has 16 industrial units in the South and Midwest of Brazil, more than 35,000 employees, 23 distribution centers and 7 commercial offices abroad. Presently, Perdigão is recognized in the most demanding markets and exports to more than 100 countries. In addition to its headquarter in Brazil, it keeps offices in the Far and Middle East, the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Holland and France.