French foie gras-to-ready meals maker Delpeyrat will establish a production base in Shanghai later this year.
“Delpeyrat has signed a long-term lease on a facility on the outskirts of Shanghai owned by Chinese conglomerate, Bright Food,” Thierry Blandinières, CEO of Maïsadour, Delpeyrat’s parent company, told just-food today (9 March).
“We will be investing between EUR500,000 (US$695,500) and EUR1m in fitting out these premises with production equipment. Supplied by local duck breeders, we are aiming to start the manufacturing process, on a small-scale, from June this year and steadily build up volumes,” Blandinières explained.
The plant will manufacture raw, cooked and frozen foie gras under the Delpeyrat brand, as well as producing duck meat. Prime markets will be luxury grocers, French retailers in China and the restaurant and catering sector.
The project did not entail co-operation with Bright Food, Blandinières added.
“It just so happens that Bright Food has a facility available that suits our requirements. The production plant will be run by a Chinese company to be set up by Delpeyrat, 100%-owned by it and headed by one of our managers. There could be scope to forge a commercial partnership in the future as Bright Food has 3,000 retail outlets in China.”

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