Playing it safe Linco Food Systems

PLAYING IT SAFE

Under its welfare-focused vision of ‘Safe Food Safely’, integrated poultry process solutions company Linco Food Systems A/S has built a reputation for quality. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to managing director Peter From to find out more.

With more than 60 years as a leading name in poultry processing equipment and operations worldwide, LINCO is today the third largest company in the world market offering this total solution provision. Denmark-based Linco Food Systems A/S is privately owned by one single shareholder, who also owns a number of other poultryrelated companies, giving it unrivalled access to related expertise and technical support.

In 2008/9 Linco underwent a complete change of management following its acquisition by the shareholder as well as a complete overhaul of its structure and IT systems that was implemented by 2010. Managing director Peter From told Industry Europe, “As with many companies, 2009 was a hard year for us. We closed one production facility and reduced our workforce by 25 per cent in order to stay active and competitive in a very challenging market. Thankfully, 2010 was very busy, with a great increase in production and sales bringing an increase of around 40 per cent to our 2010 turnover. After a tough period during the recession we put higher focus on our strongly developing markets in the Far East, Middle East and south Central America, and this strategy paid off well.”

Playing to its strengths

A key element to this successful strategy saw Linco play to its two core strengths. First, the company is dedicated to the niche markets where it already performs well, delivering total solutions to customers that demand special requirements rather than chasing standardised projects. Mr From added, “It’s all about being flexible. We listen closely to our customers and can adjust and modify everything we do to fit in with their specific poultry processing requirements. Competitors offer an A-Z system whereby the processing has to follow a particular journey, but with Linco, clients can even interface different solutions – including integrating products from different suppliers – to create a perfectly designed system for their special needs.”

The second aspect of Linco’s strength is the huge growth potential in certain global markets for poultry production. With poultry the cheapest meat in the world, its efficient processing is set to boom in emerging markets. In the USA, the per person, per year poultry consumption currently stands at 65 kilos, with 35—40 kilos the European average. Across the Far East, that figure is just 12 kilos, so as eating habits change in the region because of what Mr From describes as ‘people becoming middle class’, the 1.3 billion Chinese population alone represents a massive opportunity.

Mr From said, “Linco is a very significant external supplier of poultry processing equipment to China — we have been active in the region for more than 20 years. This means we have a terrific base line for growth in the region. Linco is a trusted brand wtorldwide and as China increases in automation, we are well-positioned to make the most of this trend. Much of the poultry processing in China is still done manually, but as it gets harder to find labour, we’re seeing a high-speed take-up of automated solutions such as those offered by Linco. It’s a very exciting time for us.”

Local experts

Linco strongly believes in developing and maintaining mutually-beneficial relationships with local representatives across its global network to ensure a smooth service that is ideally suited to local clients. The company has representatives in countries including France, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Malaysia and China, with subsidiary companies and distributors in Italy, Holland, Israel, South Africa and Australia. Linco’s head office is in Trige, Denmark, with sister companies in Kansas, USA, and Holland.

As a recognised global partner for integrated poultry processing solutions that deliver everything the modern processing plant needs, Linco’s company promise to promote ‘Safe Food Safely’ is clearly illustrated by its commitment to animal welfare. Mr From said, “Animal welfare is especially important when handling live birds; we promise quality in all phases – from live bird reception to the final consumer product, including production control – and our clients rely on us to deliver poultry processing solutions that can provide the most humane way of treating the animals.”

Stress-free solutions

With all of Linco’s activities meeting the most stringent of British, European and global standards as appropriate, the company’s innovative ‘Maxi Load’ development means that the birds are never dropped, as they often are with other machinery providers, and are kept comfortable in the crates at all times. Furthermore, the Linco gas stunner is also proving a popular method of preventing the birds from being stressed, as they are put to sleep before being killed.

With exciting growth potential in developing markets and increasing demand for responsible poultry processing solutions, there is a strong future ahead for Linco.

Mr From concluded, “We’re getting more involved in promoting responsible poultry processing to consumers, particularly as new EU legislation is due to come into force in 2013. The demand for chicken is not going to go away, so by offering a total processing solution that respects the live animals, we can play a key role in this growth market.” n