1. business and industrial
2. agriculture and forestry
3. food production

focus
W O R L D W I D E
G R O W I N G
A P P E T I T E
F O R
C H I C K E N
I N
FOUR 2014
I N D O N E S I A
Malindo Feedmill has been chosen as ‘Best of the Best’ by
Forbes Indonesia. It is the parent company of Cobb parent stock
distributor PT Bibit Indonesia, which is continuing to expand its
production facilities. Malindo is owned by the Lau family which
has been involved in the Malaysian poultry industry for more than
40 years and extended its activities to Indonesia in 1997.
Forbes ‘Best of the
Best’ accolade for
Malindo Feedmill
The Forbes Indonesia accolade comes as PT Bibit forges ahead
with plans to open a new Cobb500 grandparent farm in East Java
by early 2016 to support future growth.
The company is operating four grandparent farms in West Java,
350 km (220 miles) from Jakarta that supply more than three million
parent stock a year. The new farm will add another 800,000 chicks
a year with the hatchery capacity expanding to accommodate this
growth. The breeding farms are spread across Java, Kalimantan,
Sulawesi and Sumatra.
Around half of the parents are used within the company in the
day-old chicks division which hatches over 200 million broilers a
year and is regarded alongside feed manufacture as a core activity.
The Cobb500 is the clear market leader in Indonesia. The breeder
is recognized for robustness and low overall mortality. The local
market prefers small chickens weighing 0.8 – 1.2 kg (1.8 – 2.6 lb)
and with its good early performance the Cobb broiler is highly
rated.
Most birds are reared in open housing to be processed within 25
to 30 days which enables producers to increase their annual
production cycles.
“The Malindo group has been a
very loyal Cobb producer and
distributor from the day they broke
into the Indonesian market back in
1997,” said Mark Glavey, Cobb sales
director for Asia.
”It has been a real pleasure to
watch this company expand and
grow each and every year. Cobb’s
growth and reputation in the allimportant Indonesian market reflects
the growing success of Malindo.”
Alongside the expansion of PT
Above: Malindo double decker houses on one of their broiler farms in
Java.
Lau Joo Hwa, deputy chief executive officer for the Malindo Group
(second left), pictured with some of his support staff and
representatives from the Cobb Asia team at the Malindo booth at the
Indolivestock Expo 2014 in Jakarta.
Bibit the parent company Malindo Feedmill is planning to increase
its output of 900,000 tonnes of poultry feed by 50 percent.
It recently opened a feed mill in Semarang, Central Java, with an
continued on page 2
annual capacity of 360,000 tonnes.
Asia-Pacific: ‘Tremendous success’ of
conference...........................................3
UK innovation grant for genome
research...............................................3
Russia: ‘Cobb pedigree oasis at
Akashevo’........................................4 - 5
Sustainability Report (left) gets GRI ‘A’
grade....................................................6
France: New flock award.....................6
Brazil: Support for day care centre......6
Germany: 100 millionth chick for Polish
customer...............................................7
Brazil: Best flock awards for two years...7
US: Lifetime recognition for Bob Ickes....7
New faces in world of Cobb................8
GROWING APPETITE FOR CHICKEN IN INDONESIA
Ciki Wiki brands. This activity is expected to make an increasing
contribution to the group as it takes advantage of growing demand
for value-added and convenience products from the rising
disposable income of the large population.
It is this growth prospect that has attracted other poultry
companies to Indonesia, leading to increasing competition in the
industry. Lau Joo Hwa, deputy chief executive officer of Malindo,
believes that their fully integrated structure will give them an
advantage over the five new companies competing in this market.
Today the three fully integrated companies control more than half
of the market.
Optimistic outlook for Indonesia
and poultry industry
Malindo deputy chief executive
officer Lau Joo Hwa (right) is
appreciative of the full support of
Cobb from the beginning of their
operations in Indonesia. “Cobb
has always provided the best
quality for us and our customers,
and this has played an important
role in our growth and success,”
he says.
Indonesia has entered a new era
of leadership with the election of
Joko Widodo as president of the
Republic of Indonesia up to 2019, along with vice president
Jusuf Kalla (Jokowi - JK) who were recently sworn in.
“Both Investors and Industry in Indonesia have high
expectations that with this new Government there will be a lot of
changes in providing a better climate for investment and
economic growth,” says Lau Joo Hwa.
“As reported in the media, the Jokowi - JK Government
targets national growth at seven percent under their five-year
leadership. They aim for infrastructure investment over the next
five years of at least Rp 6,500 trillion (US$560 billion), with
around 25 percent coming from National Budget (APBN) and
the remaining 75 percent from BUMN and private sectors.
This huge investment in infrastructure will boost economic
activity and create lots of jobs.
“According to Jokowi-JK campaign program, there will be
many sectors focused on accelerated growth with a cut in
bureaucracy and clear government incentives for industry
growth.
“With all these, the consuming class which now totals around
60 million people will undoubtedly be boosted significantly if the
programs run well.
“All industries should have good growth prospects especially
those in basic foods like chicken where consumption in
Indonesia is still very low at about 9kg/capita due to lack of
consuming class. This sector will be the key for sustainable fast
growth for Indonesia.
“Certainly, we are optimistic that the poultry business will
grow significantly in the next five years. Malindo, with the full
support of Cobb, will grow even faster to live up to its motto
‘Feeding Indonesia’.”
continued from page 1
The construction of a
new US$17 million mill
in Makassar, South
Sulawesi, with an initial
capacity of 240,000
tonnes / year is also underway.
The supply of feed and day-old chicks are two parts of the four
divisions that make up the Malindo group. As the third largest
poultry firm in Indonesia, Malindo is seeking to catch up with its
two bigger rivals with an increase in sales from 1,868 billion rupiah
(US$155 million) in 2009 to 4,193 billion rupiah (US$347 million) in
2013. Over this period its sales have grown 18 percent in every
year, well above the industry average of 11 percent.
“Last year was a particularly good year for Malindo,” reports
Forbes Indonesia. “The company
recorded net sales of Rp 4.2 trillion
(US$347 million) in 2013, a 25 percent
increase from Rp 3.3 trillion (US$273
million) in 2012, coming from stronger
sales of poultry feed and day-old
chicks.
“The share price is up more than
450 percent since 2010. These are
among the reasons that Malindo is the
number one company on this year’s
Best of the Best list.”
The Lau family sees Indonesia as a
key market in the region. With its
population of more than 250 million,
the fourth largest in the world, chicken
consumption is now at around 9kg per
person per year and is continuing to rise.
All divisions of Malindo are expanding, with some Rp500 billion
(US$42 million) being spent this year to raise its overall production.
Feed milling makes up around 71 percent of the sales, day-old
chicks 19 percent and broiler growing 8 percent with a new food
processing activity launched in 2013.
In December last year this new food processing subsidiary,
Malindo Food Delight, began production at its Cikarang factory of
chicken nuggets and sausages sold under the Sunny Gold and
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Asia-Pacific distributor conference
a ‘tremendous success’
Cobb held its Asia-Pacific regional conference in Singapore at the
Capella Hotel and Resort, attended by the owners and top
executives from 36 distributors in 15 countries across the region.
Jerry Moye, president of Cobb-Vantress, spoke at the event
about the company’s contribution to providing the world with
affordable protein through genetic progress and expanding its
global business.
He said that Cobb will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific
market with the establishment of a Cobb grandparent operation
being just one example.
Mitch Abrahamsen, vice president of Cobb research and
development, emphasized the breed’s genetic improvement yearon-year through innovation and use of the latest technology.
Cobb is continuing to invest in research with cooperation from
highly regarded universities around the world to develop the
product and to balance qualities such as robustness, meat yield
and feed conversion, said
Dr Abrahamsen. The emphasis
is on achieving the lowest
broiler chick cost and also the
best meat yield in its class.
Pelayo Casanovas, who
was appointed general
manager for Asia-Pacific
Pelayo Casanovas, speaking at the
region earlier this year, gave
event. Below: delegates at the event.
his vision of Cobb expanding
to meet the challenge of
economic and population growth in the region.
He said that as well as increasing production facilities in both
China and Philippines, Cobb is also strengthening its Asia-Pacific
team in aspects such as technical support, performance data
analysis and marketing intelligence to keep the business on track to
attain more than half of the market in this region by
2015.
Narongchai Butsamian, vice president of CP
Livestock Myanmar, summed up the event: “Not only
do we know more about the progress of Cobb
genetic improvement, but we also exchanged
information and data on the breed’s performance in
this region.
“This is a tremendously successful event both in
sharing knowledge about Cobb and about our
partners in the region. It is absolutely an opening of
the door for us to know more about what other
companies are doing to be successful players in a
competitive market.”
The event ended with a stunning firework display
after dinner at the Universal Studio Singapore.
UK innovation grant for genome
project with The Roslin Institute
A joint project by Cobb Europe and the University of Edinburgh’s
Roslin Institute in Scotland has been awarded a grant of almost
£650,000 (US$ 1.07 million) from the UK’s innovation agency,
Innovate UK, for genome biobanking to optimize valuable broiler
genetic stocks.
The award under its Agri-Tech Catalyst programme will fund
cryopreservation and cutting-edge sequencing technologies to
address food security and production efficiency. New stem cell
preservation technology will be used to enable biobanking of pure
lines to ensure these current genetic resources are available in the
future.
The project is projected to cost £815,904 (US$ 1.35 million), of
which £648,680 is being provided by the Innovate UK grant. The work
will also further mine the genome of Cobb poultry resources to
understand the genetic drivers of key economic traits and exploit
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existing genetic variation to drive significant improvements
in commercial performance for emerging markets.
The award is made in the context of a need to double
global poultry production in the next 25 years to meet
growing demand for animal protein in the developing
world. Traditional commercial genetic resources will need
to have the genetic potential to meet local environmental
conditions, which include severe climate and disease challenge
pressures.
“Our investment and collaboration with The Roslin Institute
represents a major initiative to address the genetic basis for improved
breeder and broiler performance in an era of changing management
programmes and an ever growing demand for animal protein,” said
Dr Mitch Abrahamsen, Cobb-Vantress vice president of research and
development.
“The awarding of funding from the UK government to support our
collaboration is a significant recognition of the quality of the
researchers involved and validation of our research strategies to
assure food security and improving production efficiency.”
The Roslin Institute receives strategic funding from the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
JOINT PROJECT FORGING AHEAD IN RUSSIA
are well known in Ioshkar-Ola, but it was their first venture in farming
when these businessmen from the Republic of Komi bought an
abandoned poultry farm in a village of Jubileiny in 2006.
And when did local authorities believe in you and give a green
light to your projects? – I ask Nikolai Krivash, general director of
Akashevo.
“It was when we launched our first production complex in
Jubileiny,” he replied. “And at the same time we laid the foundation of
Akashevo agriholding, which has now turned into a brand. We have
put into operation our own meat processing plant which I also
consider an important milestone. And finally, we have constructed
grandparent and parent farms to grow Cobb pedigree chicks.
We plan to meet 40 percent of the requirements of Russian poultry
factories in broiler breeders. I’m convinced that our partner, Cobb
Europe, has the most advanced genetics in meat poultry.”
Akashevo was impressed by the professionalism and open-minded
approach of Cobb managers, always available and ready to discuss
current issues. Cobb specialists made no less than 20 visits to
Akashevo before the contract was signed, and now Cobb
representatives are present whenever pedigree chicks are placed.
All the facilities were constructed in a short time, with zones at
least 2 km from each other for biosecurity. There are now 30
production facilities, and within a year of laying the foundation stone
grandparents are in production and the first parent stock chicks
have been hatched. Next year Akashevo will be supplying 45
percent of all Cobb parent stock sales in Russia.
“This breeding enterprise is going to be a real Cobb pedigree
oasis in the region of Povolzhie,” commented Irina Likhacheva.
Akashevo works closely with suppliers
such as Koudice MKorma which supplies
feed. It says the quality of premixes
supplied from the company make it
possible to achieve 1.7 feed conversion
and 95 percent livability in broilers.
An acclaimed advantage of the Cobb
breed is its ability to perform well on low
density feed, achieving good results with a
low percentage of protein and lysine.
The magazine ‘Animal Husbandry of Russia’ published an article
in September featuring the joint project of Cobb Europe and
Akashevo agriholding company in the Mary El republic of Russia.
It was written by the chief editor NATALY SOBOL in cooperation
with IRINA LIKHACHEVA, Cobb sales director in Russia. This is a
summary of the article.
‘Cobb pedigree oasis
at Akashevo’
Such a picturesque definition of a joint project between Cobb
Europe and Akashevo agriholding company, Mary El republic,
Russia, was given by Irina Likhacheva. No words would describe it
better.
Grandparent chicken houses emerged in a green field some 40
km from the capital of the Republic. From here day-old Cobb500
broiler breeder chicks will be delivered to the poultry operations of
Russia and bordering countries – something customers have been
awaiting.
To get a contract for managing grandparent pedigree chicks in
Russia is a great achievement for the partnership with
Rosselkhozbank under the support of the leader of Mary El Republic
Leonid Markelov.
The owners of Akashevo - Nikolai Krivash and Vladimir Krivash -
From left to right: Ilya Nikishin (Akashevo),
Philippe Gouault (Cobb Europe), Ira
Khamatshina (Cobb Europe), Vladimir
Tarasov (Akashevo), Irina Likhacheva (Cobb
Europe), Nikolai Krivash (Akashevo).
Above right: Nikolai Krivash – joint owner of
Akashevo - at the ceremonial laying of the
first stone at the grandparent farm in 2013.
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JOINT PROJECT FORGING AHEAD IN RUSSIA
Setting three new records
Akashevo is also hitting the records. In the Russian Book of
Records it is listed as cooking the longest (150 m) chicken
meat shish-kebab and a 90 m sandwich with chicken ham.
This year it also achieved a Guinness Record. On August 9, to
mark the 430 years of Yoshkar Ola, 2014 chickens were grilled
on the main square of the city. Usually, such events take part on
the birthday of the city, and attract attention to the products of
Agroholding.
“Nowadays major poultry integrations in Russia give preference to
100 percent Cobb breed – these include Resourse, Belaya Ptitsa
and Chelny-broiler, and last December BZRK Agriholding converted
all his three production companies to Cobb both in Great Novgorod
and Belgorod,” said Irina Likhacheva.
“Many customers have not yet fully appreciated one of the key
economic benefits of Cobb – over one percent greater dressed
carcass yield. And Cobb is the leader in hatchability with many
operations having regularly 130 to 135 chicks per hen housed for 62
weeks of growing.”
With its rapidly growing poultry industry, Russia is experiencing a
shortage in broiler breeding stock. Import of hatching eggs from the
US has been suspended, and European countries cannot satisfy the
demands for day-old chicks and hatching eggs.
When its plans are realized, Akashevo will not only meet its own
demand for parent chicks but increase availability of Cobb broiler
breeders to other Russian farms.
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Faster chick delivery is a great advantage now. Delivery from
Yoshkar Ola to Tatarstan and adjacent regions takes three to four
hours instead of up to 60 hours.
Akashevo branded products are sold not only in Mary El and
neighboring regions, but in the chain stores of Moscow and other
big cities. The product range in their 57 shops impresses consumers
with prices to satisfy every buyer.
Akashovo can be proud of its meat processing plant inaugurated
this spring in the Kugenersk district. Irina Likhacheva asked the chief
technologist if they were satisfied with the quality
of the chickens which they were processing:
“Cobb500 is an excellent bird” - was the plant
manager’s answer.
Even though not yet in full production, the
enterprise employs more that 4,000 people from
the Kirov region.
At the complex inauguration in Mary-Turetsk
earlier this year, L. Markelov, the head of Mariy El
Republic, stated: “In Soviet times the whole
republic produced about 10,000 tons of poultry
meat and now this enterprise alone will produce
over 20,000 tons. This generates new tax income
which is essential for building nurseries, schools,
medical institutions and other social facilities. In
other words, it will increase people’s quality of life
in villages.”
The Akashevo target is to produce 200,000 tons
of broiler meat liveweight per year and create
some 2,500 jobs. The major share of produce is to
be sold chilled, one third as carcasses and the
rest as cut-ups and processed.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Cobb Sustainability Report achieves GRI ‘A’ grade
Genetic progress key to sustainable future
The first sustainability report from Cobb-Vantress, Inc. entitled
‘Our Role in Building a Sustainable Future for the
World’ has been awarded an ‘A’ grade by the
Global Reporting Initiative.
The report details the company’s commitment to
building a sustainable future for employees,
customers and communities where it is located –
adhering to its core values not only to achieve
economic growth but to care for animal well-being
and adopt responsible environmental management.
The core values encompass Family, Integrity, Being
the Best and Innovation.
“Cobb’s extensive research and development
efforts not only sustain the company and the
poultry industry, but are critical to helping feed a
global population projected to reach nine billion by
2050.” says Jerry Moye, President of Cobb.
He states: “At Cobb, our values serve as a moral compass to
guide our actions on important global issues such as hunger relief,
protection of the environment, conservation of resources, animal
well-being and ethical business practices.”
Roger Vessell, Cobb Director of Worldwide Marketing, stated:
“Cobb’s core values and purpose have positioned the company to
be a leading global poultry breeder for the past 100 years and will
continue to guide us into the next century.”
Notable accomplishments highlighted in the
report:
• During fiscal 2013, our average hourly US wage
was 88 percent higher than the federal minimum
wage.
• Cobb global operations increased man-hours
worked by nearly one million hours from fiscal
2011 through 2013, yet had a decrease in its
Days Away, Restricted, and Transfer (DART)
rate by nearly 1 percent.
• Cobb and a private entity, Ikiraro Investments,
support a project aimed at easing the hunger
of the local people of Musanze in Rwanda,
providing technical expertise in poultry
production and husbandry.
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a non-profit organization
that promotes economic sustainability and produces one of the
world's most prevalent standards for sustainability reporting.
New Cobb flock award
presented in France
Renovated day care center
opens in Brazil
A new award for the top Cobb flock in France has been presented
to the Jadault family of Menomblet, Vendée, working with the
Boyé hatchery. Their winning flock of 8000 Cobb500 parents
achieved 150.89 chicks during 39 weeks of production.
The Jadault family started an association with the Boyé hatchery
at les Deux Sèvres in Poitou Charente in 1992. Cédric Jadault joined
his parents Nadine and Francis in the business in 2011 to expand
capacity to 23,000 breeders.
Boyé hatchery has been established for 60 years and hatches
one million chicks a week along with 200,000 guinea fowl. There are
some 50 farmers in the partnership with the Boyé hatchery,
currently seeking additional breeder farms to continue expansion.
Cobb Focus likes to feature activities around the world where Cobb is
helping to improve the lifestyle for local communities. This time we look
at the role Cobb-Vantress is playing in the Brazilian town of Palestina to
help renovate and revitalize the Pedacinho do Céu public day care center
in the Duplo Céu district.
A ceremony
involving Cobb and
the town government
was held to reopen
the unit that provides
full-time assistance
for 48 local children.
Aimed at
providing children
up to five years old
with the best
possible environment, Cobb invested in new furniture and equipment, new
painting and toys for the classrooms and playground. The day care center
underwent expansion and update four years ago, also with support from
Cobb.
The mayor Fernando Luis Semedo, along with other town representatives
were joined by Jairo Arenazio, Cobb's general manager for South America,
and Luana Ragonezi, Cobb human resources manager, and other
company directors to take part in the reopening ceremony.
"We hope this will provide the children with higher quality facilities for
learning and playing, so parents are reassured that their children are
spending the day in a safe environment that is totally suitable for their
development,” said Luana Ragonezi.
At the presentation - from left, Roy Mutimer, Cobb Europe, Francis Jadault,
Cédric Jadault, Guillaume Villeger, technical supervisor Boyé, Jacques
Pasquier, production director Boyé and Philippe Gouault, Cobb Europe.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
100 millionth chick from Cobb Germany goes to Polish farm
With pride Cobb Germany hatched its 100 millionth female Cobb500 parent
stock chick which was delivered to Polish broiler breeder farmer Leszek
Wasikowski.
The company’s hatchery at Wiesenena, near Leipzig, was opened in 1998
and has been expanded to a capacity of 10 million chicks / year to supply
the 21 countries for which it is the parent stock distributor.
Cobb Germany sales manager Aldona van Krevel and technical manager
Ireneusz Rosada were at the family farm at Nadziejewo, Czarne, to
congratulate Mr Wasikowki at this historic moment, receiving the 100 millionth
chick in a delivery of 49,176 birds.
Aldona van Krevel commented: “A better home for our 100th million chick
you couldn't find! The family company has been in the poultry business for
47 years! Leszek is the ‘next generation’ following his father Jan who is still
growing breeders and has expanded his business considerably over the last
few years with new chicken houses for rearing and production, a feed mill
and recently plans to double hatchery capacity.”
COBB GERMANY PARENT STOCK
HATCHERY WIESENENA
From 1998 to 2014
Mr. Wasikowski holding
the 100 Millionth Chick
• At the Eurotier 2014 Show in Hanover, Cobb Germany director James Truscott
is presenting an award to Mr Wasikowski to highlight the spectacular growth of
the Cobb Germany's German hatchery and celebrate the 100 millionth
Cobb500 female. Among them will be colleagues new and old from the poultry
industry and staff from the hatchery headed by manager Uwe Weidenmüller.
Best Flock Awards presented in Brazil
Winners of Brazilian Best Cobb Flock Award for 2012 and 2013 were announced at the 5th
Cobb corporate meeting in Foz do Iguaçu (PR). The results highlight the world-class results
in total eggs / hen housed achieved by Cobb customers to 65 weeks of age.
In the slow feathering category in 2012 the winner was Globoaves, from Cascavel (PR) with
199.95 eggs/hen housed. Cobb technical assistant Cristiano Pereira presented the award to
Mario Antonio Tremarin, Globoaves production manager.
In the fast feathering category Flamboiã from Cabreúva (SP) won with 199.57 eggs/hen
housed. The award was given to director Marcelo Ortega by technical assistant Cobb José
Luis Januário.
Among the 2013 flocks in the
slow feathering category the first
place went to Granja Real, from
Pato Branco (PR), with 199.15
eggs/hen housed. Rodrigo Rotta,
the company's chief executive
officer, received the award from
Cobb technical assistant Paulo
Favero.
Copacol from Cafelândia (PR)
was the 2013 winner of the fast feathering category with 198.13 eggs/hen housed. Irineu
Dantes Perón, Copacol's animal production manager, received the award from Cassiano
Bevilaqua, Cobb technical assistant in charge of the technical support to the company who is
now the marketing, credit and collection manager.
This is the fifth year of the Best Cobb Flock Awards, presented during the Cobb corporate
meeting, which brings together the leaders in the South American poultry industry and
provides a forum for discussing the Brazilian economic scenario.
"Our technical assistance team is focused on supporting our customers so they can
obtain the best results with the Cobb genetic package,” said Flavio Henrique Araujo Silva,
Cobb-Vantress technical assistance manager.
“The objective of this award is to honor our customers and to highlight successful
partnerships between them and Cobb, which enable them to achieve results of great
significance in the poultry industry.”
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100 MILLION PARENT STOCK
CHICKS HATCHED
Thank you to our customers
and the entire Cobb Germany team,
who helped make this possible
Lifetime Achievement
Award for Bob Ickes
At the Louisiana Poultry Federation’s
annual convention, Bob Ickes of CobbVantress, Inc. was presented a Lifetime
Achievement award for his 20 plus years
of service and dedication to the
federation as well as to the poultry
industry in Louisiana.
“Bob has been instrumental in keeping
the Louisiana
Poultry Federation
active for many
years,” commented
Professor Theresia
Lavergne, of
Louisiana State
University’s School
of Animal Sciences.
“Most recently,
Bob has been an
advisor to our
directors. Bob is
definitely the ‘go to’
person when an
officer or board member needs information
or advice on federation business!”
Bob Ickes has been with Cobb since
October of 2007 and has worked
throughout the poultry industry for the past
40 years.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
New director of sales and technical service for Cobb Europe
Tore Mercan has been appointed by Cobb Europe as
director of sales and technical service for Europe, the
Middle East and Africa.
Tore, who began his career in the Turkish poultry
industry in production and then technical roles, has
combined technical and commercial roles in
subsequent appointments.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tore to the Cobb Europe
team,” said Roy Mutimer, regional general manager.
“I know his knowledge and experience will bring great
value to our customers through his own efforts and also
by his leadership of our sales and technical teams.
This is a great appointment for Cobb Europe that will
benefit our customers and help grow our market share in
this region.”
Tore Mercan added: I’m delighted to take up this
challenging position and I will be devoting all my efforts
to continue providing the world class sales and technical
support. I look forward to meeting customers and
distributors in this fast growing region.”
Worldwide appointments
Leonel Mejía has joined Cobb-Vantress
to augment the company’s technical
service team covering Mexico,
Guatemala and Panama.
Dr Mejía has been working as a
scientist with DSM Nutritional Products
over the past two years, having a
technical role across the business and
supporting key poultry accounts in
Mississippi and Alabama.
Rory DeWeese, with 25 years’
experience in the US poultry industry,
has joined the Cobb-Vantress North
American technical service team.
He has been with Pilgrim’s Pride for the
last 11 years, most recently as live
production manager at their Russellville
complex in Alabama, and will be serving
Cobb customers in this state, Tennessee
and Florida.
Cody Polley, who has wide experience
of managing pedigree and grandparent
farms for Cobb-Vantress, has been
appointed as breeder specialist with the
Cobb World Technical Support Team.
A graduate of the University of
Arkansas, he worked initially in turkey
production and then joined Cobb in 1998
and within two years became breeder
manager at one of company’s pedigree
farms.
Mark Kittrell, who has almost 30 years’
experience in the US poultry industry,
has joined its technical service team for
North America.
He has been with Tyson Foods for 17
years, most recently as live production
manager at its Noel complex in Missouri.
Mark began his poultry career in 1985
with Cuddy Farms before joining Hudson
Farms in 1987 and serving in various
capacities including breeder farm
manger and grow-out supervisor.
Hosam Amro, who has almost 30 years’
experience in the poultry industry, has
joined Cobb Europe as regional
technical manager for the Middle East
based in Egypt.
He graduated at the Cairo University
veterinary school in 1985 and worked
initially in an Egyptian diagnostic
laboratory, and then in large-scale poultry
production in Saudi Arabia. He was with
Aviagen as a veterinary technical
manager in Egypt for some 15 years, and
joins Cobb from Boehringer Ingelheim.
Arriana Catania has joined Cobb
Europe as marketing coordinator for the
EMEA region. Based in Colchester in
the UK, she will be working with the
marketing, sales and technical team.
She has a marketing degree and nearly
10 years’ exhibitions marketing experience.
Arriana will be implementing marketing
projects for the region including planning
and executing customer seminars and
trade shows, along with coordinating
market and competitor intelligence.
cobb-vantress.com
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