Portugal, 30 Sept. 2024. A new egg incubation centre, under the responsibility of Lusiaves, has been inaugurated in Pombal. This represents a total investment of 66 million euros. Pintogal, a company dedicated to egg production and incubation, is located at the Parque Industrial Manuel da Mota, in Pombal, Portugal
The facilities cover a total area of 3.25 hectares, with the production area measuring approximately 9,000 square metres. The investment has created more than 200 jobs, 50 of them within the unit itself and more than two hundred on the production farms supplying the hatching eggs to this centre. The new hatchery has an annual production capacity of more than 62 million chicks, raising the Group’s total annual production capacity to more than 182 million chicks.
Lusiaves inaugurates a state-of-the-art new Hatchery in Pombal (Portugal) as part of a multi-million euro investment for export
Grupo Lusiaves has reached a strategic milestone with the official inauguration of its new Hatchery in Pombal. The ceremony, held on 30 September 2024, was attended by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, and other authorities, who underscored the strategic significance of the project for the national economy.
This centre is a key component of a broader investment plan. While some sources indicate that the total investment by the poultry group amounts to 60 million euros, another source places the overall investment at 66 million euros. This project aims to boost the group’s production and export capacity, positioning the facility as one of the most advanced of its kind in Europe. The company responsible for egg production and incubation, Pintogal, is located at the Parque Industrial Manuel da Mota, in Pombal. The new facilities are set on a total area of 3.25 hectares, of which approximately 9,000 square metres are dedicated to production.
The new hatchery will produce more than 62 million chicks per year
The commissioning of this centre, equipped with cutting-edge technology, significantly increases Lusiaves’ capacity. The new facility achieves an annual production capacity of more than 62 million chicks, raising the Group’s total annual production capacity to more than 182 million chicks.
With this capacity increase, Grupo Lusiaves consolidates its presence in global markets, expanding exports and strengthening the competitiveness of the Portuguese agri-food sector. The Group’s export drive is reinforced at the hatchery level, with more than 16 million chicks set to go “beyond borders”.
The Hatchery will employ 50 people, with the associated breeder farms and services providing employment for a further 150 people
This project is also a key driver of employment. The centre generated more than 200 jobs, of which 50 are within the unit itself and more than two hundred were created on the production farms supplying hatching eggs to the centre. Grupo Lusiaves reaffirms its role as a national economic engine, with more than 4,500 direct employees and 500 indirect jobs.
Commitment to innovation and sustainability
The president of Grupo Lusiaves, Avelino Gaspar, who has led the company for nearly 40 years, highlighted that this achievement is the “most visible face” of the overall investment, which also encompassed the construction of new farms for the production of breeding hens and hatching eggs. Gaspar stated that success is built on “hard work, constant innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit”.
The Group reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and innovation. The company has made a substantial investment in environmental practices, with the installation of solar parks across all its units being a notable highlight. This measure already enables a reduction of 10,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, a figure expected to increase in 2025 with the production of 55 GWh of clean energy. Furthermore, the company is developing projects for water reuse and other circular economy initiatives.
The CEO of Lusiaves called upon the Prime Minister of Portugal, who attended the inauguration, to simplify the bureaucratic burdens imposed by the Government.
During the event, also attended by the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes, and the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, António Leitão Amaro, Avelino Gaspar expressed his gratitude for the support of public entities.
Gaspar took advantage of the Prime Minister’s presence to issue an urgent call for the simplification of administrative processes and the reduction of “context costs”. According to the president, streamlining these procedures is “fundamental to ensuring that Portugal continues to be a competitive and attractive country for investment”, enabling the development of further projects that drive local production and sustainability. Gaspar also challenged the Prime Minister to be a “true ambassador for the ambitions of national companies”, ensuring that in this way a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable Portugal can be guaranteed.
The new centre represents a significant step forward in the development strategy of the group’s companies and a commitment to innovation, job creation and economic dynamism, looking towards a future in which social and environmental responsibility are fundamental pillars. Grupo Lusiaves remains focused on continuing to invest in innovation to meet the challenges of the future and contribute to a more prosperous Portugal.
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