HKScan : to launch pork exports to China - competitive edge from world-class work done on Finnish family farms

HKScan Oyj Press Release Nov 7, 2017 5:45 PM

HKScan, a leading European meat producer, is making preparations to begin exporting pork from Finland to China. The Chinese and Finnish food authorities have newly signed an agreement allowing HKScan's Forssa plant to prepare for launching exports to China. Exports are scheduled to commence during the first half of 2018

The export of responsibly produced Finnish pork to China is a significant milestone in HKScan's export expansion efforts and in the execution of its newly revised strategy. It also bears witness to growing demand for food produced on Finnish family farms and the potential for export growth that this offers.

'The launch of Chinese exports is a great example of our From Farm to Fork strategy. We want to make daily life tastier for our consumers and customers - both today and tomorrow. Our promise is to deliver responsibly produced, high-quality, nutritionally sound food, from farm to fork, and now we have the chance to do this on the growing Chinese market,' says HKScan President and CEO Jari Latvanen.

'Finnish family farms are doing a world-class job, and we take pride in sharing their story with the world. Our commitment to superior quality and responsibility from farm to fork offers us a competitive edge and the opportunity to expand our export of value-added products on a significant new market,' adds Latvanen. 'I would like to thank all our contract farmers for the excellent, long-term work they have been doing to differentiate our products in such a unique way.'

The launch of exports from Finland to China has involved extensive preparations with Finnish authorities. 'We owe a debt to Finland's decision-makers and authorities, who have been extremely helpful in supporting the export of Finnish food products - without their input, we would not have made it.' On behalf of myself and the whole of HKScan, I would like to express my gratitude to the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Finnish Food Safety Authority and to all other officials involved both in China and Finland. Especially Ms. Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has given valuable support. I would also like to thank our partners in China and Finland,' says President and CEO Latvanen.

HKScan products exported to China will be targeted at retail customers, industrial customers and the HoReCa sector. The initial goal is to export 3 000 tonnes of pork meat to China and to triple that volume by 2020. In addition to exporting pork, HKScan's long-term goal is to initiate the export of poultry and other meat. A further goal is to launch exports to China from HKScan's other home markets.

Background facts:

• HKScan currently exports meat to nearly 50 countries. The company exports pork to many EU countries and outlying markets such as New Zealand and Japan.
• HKScan's Forssa plant, now preparing for launching Chinese exports, is ISO 9001, 14001 and 22 000-certified, and it is already approved for export to the US and Russia.
• HKScan's domestic meat raw material is sourced directly from approx. 1 100 Finnish contract farms.

HKScan Corporation

Jari Latvanen,
President and CEO

For further information:
President and CEO Jari Latvanen
Kindly submit a call-back request via Marja-Leena Dahlskog, VP Communications, firstname.lastnam@hkscan.com or tel. +358 10 570 2142.

HKScan is the leading Nordic food company. We sell, market and produce high-quality, responsibly-produced pork, beef, poultry and lamb products, processed meats and convenience foods under strong brand names. Our customers are the retail, food service, industrial and export sectors, and our home markets comprise Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltics. We export to close to 50 countries. In 2016, HKScan had net sales of nearly EUR 1.9 billion and some 7 300 employees.
JAKELU: Key media, www.hkscan.com