Belonging to the Copese Food Group, it joins the select group of Spanish slaughterhouses and cutting plants that can send their products to the Asian giant. More than two years of work and bureaucratic procedures were necessary to obtain the desired approval.
The business group Grupo Alimentario Copese (Comercial Pecuaria Segoviana, Agropecuaria Entrepinos, and Hola Food) has reason to celebrate. After more than two years of intensive work and bureaucratic procedures, Hola Food has received approval to export fresh and frozen products produced at its meat processing center located in Villacastín, Segovia.
This certification, which only one other Spanish slaughterhouse has received on the list on November 22nd – Hola Food has been authorized for slaughterhouse, cutting room, and cold storage activities – represents a significant boost to the work of the entire team at the agri-food company and their considerable effort to meet the strict quality requirements imposed by China. “It means a revaluation of certain pork cuts and, of course, the opportunity to open up a large market, something that is highly significant considering the requirements we had to meet to obtain this authorization,” emphasizes José Muñoz, CEO of Grupo Alimentario Copese.
The company’s Director of Quality Control and Food Safety, Marta Hebrero, emphasizes the rigorous process undertaken to obtain all the quality certifications (BRC and IFS) and animal welfare certifications (IAWS and WQ). “We experienced moments of intense stress due to the deadlines imposed by Chinese authorities for submitting documentation and adapting our processes, as well as the stringent requirements that compel companies to establish work procedures based on the highest quality and safety standards, and the stringent product specifications. But today we can celebrate the recognition of that effort and gather strength for the new project we are embarking on now.”