CPF holds negotiations with fast-food chains in India for supply of chicken products

Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) is holding negotiations with quick service chains to secure contracts for the supply of chicken products following the opening of a chicken processing plant in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India.

CPF (India) senior vice-president of the food business Sanjeev Pant was quoted by Just-food.com as saying: "This new plant has been established with an investment of around $20m and is undoubtedly the best chicken processing plant in the country."

CPF is reportedly holding negotiations with companies such as Yum Brands and McDonald’s to secure supply contracts.

Pant added: "CPF (India) is in discussions with many global chains to support their requirements, and we are expecting these discussions to fructify in the next few months."

The Thai company plans to launch its own range of chicken products such as CP Frozen Chicken and CP Chilled Chicken in the Indian market.

It aims to gain a significant market share in the packaged food segment, which is expected to reach $50bn by next year.

The Chittoor facility can annually process 24,000t of chicken.

CP Foods operates in more than 40 countries, and has established hatchery, broiler and breeding farms in the southern part of India for more than two decades.