Brazil meat giant JBS plans to invest $70m over the next two years in poultry production in Paraguay.

The investment will take place in phases, starting with the acquisition of a factory from Pollos Amanecer, a local agri-food business focused on poultry processing, grain and cereal production, JBS said in a statement.

The Pollos Amanecer plant is located in the Paraguay district of Doctor Juan Eulogio Estigarribia, also known as Campo 9, in the department of Caaguazú.

Gilberto Tomazoni, global CEO of JBS, said: “Paraguay offers good conditions for the development of poultry farming, and this investment reinforces our strategy of increasing the company's competitiveness and diversification.

“We are confident that this operation will be an engine of growth for the country, generating jobs, income, and high-quality products for the global market, accelerating Paraguay's presence in the world chicken market.”

JBS announced the investment yesterday (2 October) during a visit from the president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, to the company's Seara factory in Dourados, located in the Brazil state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The site in Paraguay is earmarked to produce JBS's Seara meat brand.

JBS told Just Food that it acquired the factory and the brand as well, but it hasn't yet decided if it's going to produce the brand or not

The meat producer said in a statement: “Seara's expansion plan will include substantial investments by integrated chicken producers in the region.

“The plant currently operates with chickens produced in 19 chicken coops. The plan is to reach 139 when the facility’s expansion cycle is complete.”

JBS said it will expand and modernise the plant with the aim of reaching a processing capacity of 100,000 birds per day to supply the domestic market and also to gain access to foreign markets.

At full capacity, the facility will operate with around 1100 employees, including manufacturing and administrative staff. The production complex will include 28 poultry farms, hatcheries, and a feed mill.

The Seara brand includes fresh products such as chilled poultry and pork, ready-to-eat meals, snacks, cured meat and other items.

According to the meat producers website, Seara currently has 30 processing facilities across Brazil. It also has 24 prepared food facilities.

This is JBS's first facility in Paraguay.