BRF S.A. has announced that it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with INVICTA Food Group Ltd. of the UK. This joint venture will draw on both companies’ capabilities and expertise to drive further success in the supply of meat products to the foodservice markets of the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries.

Created in 2012 following the merger of Brazilian companies Perdigão and Sadia, BRF is the world’s 7th largest food company by market capitalisation and is responsible for 20 per cent of global poultry trade. Invicta Food Group Ltd is a UK group of companies based in Kent, England, which specialises in the importing, processing and subsequent supply of meat to the food-service industry and food manufacturers.

The joint venture will be active in supplying meat and poultry products to the food-service industries in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries.

For BRF, the partnership represents a major opportunity in extending its reach to the significant managed pub and restaurant sector of the UK food-service industry.

The joint venture is part of BRF’s defined strategy of improving service offering by moving up the value chain, while expanding its presence in the food-service sector.

BRF CEO for Europe and Eurasia, Roberto Banfi, explained: “Invicta has a proven track record with more than 20 years of success to its name. The company’s ability to develop tailor-made meat products for meticulous clients is a key capability that will play an important role in this joint venture. Invicta is the ideal company to partner with BRF as we embark on this exciting journey.”

The CEO of Invicta, Colin Norton, will draw on his years of expertise acquired while managing Invicta to lead the new company in the UK, Ireland and Nordic markets, and will join the BRF Europe executive team.