Minerva Foods: A Comprehensive Approach to Sustainable Food Production

Minerva Foods is a company that's making waves in the food industry with its commitment to sustainable production methods. They're taking a comprehensive approach to reducing their environmental impact.

Their focus on vertical farming is a key part of this effort. By growing crops in vertically stacked layers, Minerva Foods is able to increase yields while using less land and resources.

This approach also allows them to have more control over the growing conditions, which can lead to healthier and more flavorful produce. Minerva Foods is dedicated to providing high-quality food while minimizing their footprint.

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Minerva Foods was growing rapidly and needed a globally recognized certificate to attest to its commitment to quality, legality, authenticity, and safety of its products.

The company was facing the challenge of frequent audits and customer visits to evaluate its food safety and quality management system.

Minerva Foods needed a certificate that would prove its dedication to food quality and safety, making the approval process for becoming a supplier a time-consuming task.

The approval process required the submission of several documents to prove the company's commitment to food quality and safety.

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Minerva Foods chose to work with QIMA due to their expertise in third-party audits, particularly in the beef segment. This was a strategic decision to ensure the highest standards of food safety and quality.

The BRCGS Food certification was the chosen protocol, reflecting Minerva's commitment to excellence. This certification is a benchmark for food safety and quality.

QIMA's partnership with Minerva provided a range of complementary solutions, including meat typing for the Chilean market. This was a crucial initiative to meet local market specifics and strengthen Minerva's presence in the region.

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Minerva Foods has filed 1 patent. This is a notable achievement in the industry.

The number of patents filed by Minerva Foods is relatively low, indicating a focused approach to innovation.

Minerva Foods has implemented the Business Partner Code of Conduct to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Policy in the supply chain.

The company verifies adherence to guidelines through annual questionnaires and technical visits.

To support cattle suppliers, Minerva Foods has developed the Laço de Confiança program with interactive initiatives like the events "Falando de Pecuária", which address technical issues in livestock production and animal welfare.

These events also cover topics like sustainability, deforestation, waste treatment, and consumption of natural resources.

Minerva Foods periodically develops support materials for cattle suppliers, such as the Animal Welfare Booklet, to disclose best practices throughout the chain.

For suppliers of other raw materials of animal origin, animal welfare is a key requirement in commercial contracts, which may be terminated in cases of non-compliance with the policy.

In the late 1990s, Minerva Foods was just starting to implement the HACCP system, a comprehensive food safety and quality management system that was still new and challenging at the time.

The company's first BRCGS audit was carried out by a certifier in England, which was a substantial challenge but also a catalyst for a mindset transformation.

Food quality and safety certification was initially seen as a requirement for European customers, but it has since become a goal that the company strives for, with exports always in mind.

As Minerva Foods acquired new facilities, the team began to view certification as a collective mission, rather than just a quest for compliance.

The team now meets expectations and exceeds goals, reflecting a proactive mentality and a solid commitment to quality and safety.

Over two decades, the certification journey has become an integral part of the company's culture, bringing a sense of gratitude and driving force to continue growing.

Karina Moreira Amadeu, Corporate Quality Assurance Specialist, says the team is capable of doing the right thing without needing to be monitored or charged.

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At Minerva Foods, food safety and quality are top priorities. The company has a strong commitment to ensuring that all products meet the highest standards of safety and quality.

Minerva Foods has a robust quality control program in place, which includes regular audits and inspections of its suppliers to ensure they meet the company's quality standards. This helps to prevent any potential quality issues from arising in the first place.

The company also has a dedicated team of quality control specialists who work closely with suppliers to identify and address any quality concerns. This proactive approach helps to minimize the risk of quality issues and ensures that all products meet the company's high standards.

Minerva Foods is also committed to transparency and accountability, with a comprehensive recall policy in place to address any potential quality issues. This policy includes clear procedures for identifying and recalling products that do not meet the company's quality standards.

The company's commitment to food safety and quality has been recognized through various certifications and awards, including its BRC (British Retail Consortium) certification and the "Best Food Company" award.

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Minerva Foods takes social responsibility seriously. The company has a strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.

Minerva Foods has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 2015 through the implementation of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient practices.

The company's focus on social responsibility extends to its supply chain, where it works closely with farmers to promote sustainable agriculture practices. Minerva Foods' commitment to social responsibility has earned it recognition from various organizations.

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At Minerva Foods, animal welfare is a top priority. We recognize animals as sentient beings and take a firm stance against abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.

We adhere to the five domains of animal welfare recommended by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC). This ensures that our practices prioritize animal well-being.

Our commitment to animal welfare is evident in our operations, where we strive to create a safe and healthy environment for all animals.

We take our environmental responsibility seriously, especially when it comes to animal welfare. Our concern begins at the point of cattle acquisition and extends to rigorous evaluations of handling and the application of best practices in industry practices and control of suppliers.

We follow international recognized codes and protocols, such as Regulation 1099 of the European Union and the North American Meat Institute's Protocol, to ensure our operations meet the highest standards.

Our Global Animal Welfare Policy is in place to guarantee that animals within our supply chain are treated with care, dignity, and respect. This policy is a commitment to ensuring the welfare of cattle, pigs, broiler chickens, fish, dairy cows, and laying hens.

All our units in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina have been certified by auditors from PAACO using the NAMI Protocol, with an average compliance rate of 99.9% in 2022. In Australia, our Colac and Sunshine units are certified under the AAWCS protocol with a 100% compliance rate.

Some of our suppliers in Uruguay have the GAP Step 4 certification, one of the largest North American animal welfare programs, with over 14,000 animals originating from certified farms in 2022.

We have made significant progress in our evaluation of animal welfare indices, advancing two tiers in the ranking of BBFAW to tier 3 and moving from "high risk" to "medium risk" in the "Animal Welfare" block of the Coller FAIRR market instrument.

Minerva Foods has a presence in several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.

Their operations are primarily concentrated in the Americas, with a focus on the beef and pork industries.

Minerva Foods has a strong presence in the Argentine market, where they operate several processing plants and distribution centers.

They also have a significant presence in Brazil, where they are one of the largest meatpackers in the country.

In Chile, Minerva Foods operates a number of processing plants and distribution centers, serving the local market.

Their geographic focus allows them to serve a wide range of customers, from large retailers to small foodservice operators.

Minerva Foods' operations in the Americas provide them with a strong foundation for growth and expansion.

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Our story begins in Brazil, where Frigorífico Minerva do Brasil S/A was acquired by the Vilela de Queiroz Family, marking the start of our journey as an industrial unit in Barretos – SP.

We've come a long way since then, expanding our operations to other parts of Brazil. In Palmeiras de Goiás – GO, we opened a new industrial unit.

In February, we made another strategic move by acquiring an industrial unit in Goianésia – GO, which was formerly known as Lord Meat. This marked a significant milestone in our growth.

The global economic crisis couldn't stop us from achieving our goals. In August, we acquired our first unit outside Brazil, taking control of the former Friasa S.A. in Asunción, Paraguay.

Our distribution centers have also played a crucial role in our expansion. We began operating two new centers in Brazil, one in Viana – ES and another in Itajaí – SC.

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We've also been busy expanding our offices in South America and Europe. In Chile, we arrived on the scene, and in Italy, we started activities.

In addition to our growth in Brazil, we've also made significant strides in other parts of the world. We started the activities of the Distribution Center in Belo Horizonte – MG, in Brazil.

Our international presence has grown significantly over the years. We now have full control of the industrialized unit, Minerva Dawn Farms, which we renamed Minerva Fine Foods.

We've continued to push the boundaries of our operations, expanding beyond the Atlantic. We started activities in Lebanon and Algeria.

Our global reach has continued to expand. We started some operations in the United States and also opened an office in China.

Our presence in South America has grown, with the opening of two new Distribution Centers. One is in Santiago, Chile, and the other is in Bogotá, Colombia.

We've also made a splash in Europe, creating Minerva Foods Europe in England and opening a new office in Singapore.

Our internationalization efforts have been a major success, with the creation of Athena Foods, a Chilean company 100% controlled by Minerva Foods.

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