Danish Crown is advancing its plans to boost pork processing capacity in Denmark with the construction of a new facility in Vejen.
The cooperative announced that the expansion is driven by an increase in pig supplies from farmers, necessitating greater deboning capacity to meet rising demands.
The additional output from the Vejen plant aims to serve export markets as finished products, particularly targeting what the company describes as “attractive markets” in Asia. Danish Crown, headquartered in Randers, anticipates creating approximately 100 jobs at the new location, contributing to employment growth in the food and drink business.
Niels Ulrich Duedahl, CEO of Danish Crown, emphasized the positive impact of this expansion: “It is fantastic that we are now hiring more employees. This is the result of once again receiving more pigs for slaughter, which creates a need for more hands.” He further remarked on the strategic decision to expand production in Denmark, as it allows for fresh sales in Europe and frozen exports worldwide, highlighting the flexibility the company values.
Operations at the Vejen facility are expected to commence around October 1 of this year. Danish Crown plans to debone approximately 60,000 pork fore ends weekly at this site, utilizing existing buildings. The facility will source raw materials from Danish Crown’s slaughterhouses in Horsens, Herning, Rønne, and Blans near Sønderborg. Specifically, the new factory will occupy a portion of around 14,000 square meters of premises acquired in 2023.
This investment follows an internal reorganization at Danish Crown announced last April, when the company divided its “core business” into three distinct divisions: Danish Crown Industry, Danish Crown Foods, and Danish Crown UK.
According to Jesper Sørensen, Senior Vice President of Production at Danish Crown Industry, the need for expansion stems from the recent utilization of deboning capacity at their Danish slaughterhouses. “In recent months, we have been utilizing the deboning capacity at our Danish slaughterhouses to the fullest, which is why we need to expand,” he stated.
Establishing a specialized production facility in Vejen is expected to enhance efficiency. Additionally, it will streamline operations at the abattoirs, allowing them to function more effectively.
Danish Crown has initiated the process of obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for the project and anticipates securing these permits by the end of the first quarter. This timely approval will facilitate production on a two-shift basis starting October 1.
This expansion positions Danish Crown to not only adapt to current food and beverage industry trends but also capitalize on emerging food and drink consumer trends, strengthening its competitive edge in the market.
