Grupo Jorge, the “King of Pork”, breaks into the Spanish poultry sector with the acquisition of Arpisa
Grupo Jorge, the company recognised as the “King of Pork in Spain” and one of Europe’s leading pork exporters, has marked a significant milestone by announcing its entry into the poultry sector. This strategic move, involving an investment of 25 million euros, is being realised through the acquisition of the Aragonese company Aragonesa de Piensos (Arpisa).
The transaction has only now come to light, but was formally completed at the end of 2024 with the acquisition of a 76% stake in Arpisa through Grupo Jorge’s subsidiary, Cuarte. This strategic agreement included the Pueyo family, majority shareholders of Arpisa, becoming part of Grupo Jorge’s livestock business.
For Grupo Jorge, which already derives 70% of its turnover from international sales, this move into poultry is fundamental to reducing its dependence on the pig sector and, in particular, its reliance on external pig supply. The company, which in 2024 saw its profits soar to 67 million euros and its revenues rise to 1,976 million euros, regularly contends with pork price volatility, trade tensions and health challenges — all factors that impact export profitability. Entering the poultry sector represents a key step towards diversifying its livestock operations and strengthening its position across the animal protein value chain.
Within the context of the animal production industry in Spain, Grupo Jorge’s entry into the poultry sector is a significant development. This marks the first time the group has entered the poultry market. The transaction is part of a consolidation process within the Spanish livestock industry that has intensified in recent years. Both parties, Grupo Jorge and the Pueyo family, have stated that the objective is to consolidate and strengthen the sector, with the expectation of generating synergies that will drive growth.
What is Grupo Jorge looking to achieve by entering the poultry sector?
Grupo Jorge is seeking a range of synergies and opportunities through its entry into the poultry sector and the acquisition of Arpisa.
The main objectives and opportunities of this transaction are:
- Reducing dependence on the pig sector: One of the explicit objectives is to reduce dependence on the pig sector. This is fundamental for the company, which regularly faces pork price fluctuations, trade tensions in key markets such as the United States and China, and animal health incidents. By diversifying into poultry, the group seeks to mitigate these risks specific to the pork market.
- Reducing external supply dependency: The acquisition specifically aims to reduce reliance on external pig supply. While the transaction is in the poultry sector, the integration of Arpisa — which has experience in both pig and poultry production — may offer synergies related to livestock supply in general or feed manufacturing, which is critical to both sectors.
- Diversifying livestock operations: Entry into the poultry market is a key step enabling Grupo Jorge to diversify its livestock activities. This diversification is a core part of its strategy.
- Strengthening its position across the animal protein value chain: The partnership with Arpisa reinforces Grupo Jorge’s presence across the entire animal protein value chain. Arpisa, with its track record spanning more than six decades, already covers activities including feed manufacturing, livestock production, and the marketing of pork and poultry. This complements and extends the chain that Grupo Jorge already covers in pork (from pig trading through to cured ham marketing).
- Consolidating and strengthening the sector: As stated by both parties (Grupo Jorge and the Pueyo family), the objective is to consolidate and strengthen the sector.
- Generating synergies and driving growth: The transaction is expected to generate synergies that will drive growth. Grupo Jorge reinforces its position in pork while, most significantly, opening new avenues for growth in poultry — a sector in which it had no previous presence.
The investment of 25 million euros in the acquisition of a 76% stake in Arpisa is the vehicle through which Grupo Jorge, known as the “King of Pork in Spain”, takes this first significant step into the competitive Spanish poultry market. This transaction also aligns with a consolidation process within the Spanish animal production industry that has accelerated in recent years.
ARPISA: six decades of broiler production
Arpisa plays an essential role in this equation. This family-owned company, founded in 1977 with a track record spanning more than six decades, also known as Aragonesa de Piensos S.A., is a company headquartered in Berantevilla (Álava) and Zaragoza, dedicated to feed manufacturing, poultry and pig production, and meat marketing. It operates just under one hundred integrated broiler farms.
ARPISA’s core business activity has throughout its history been centred on poultry operations. This experience of more than half a century in the poultry sector has made ARPISA a benchmark for quality in the Spanish food market, with an estimated annual production of around 18,000 tonnes of broiler meat, placing it among the top 20 broiler producers in Spain.
The company has production facilities and commercial offices in several provinces. Its customer base is highly diverse thanks to its broad product range, spanning from small poultry shops and butchers to wholesalers and large retail chains. With a strong domestic market and a significant presence also in France, Arpisa had already been committed to expanding its international reach for several years.
With a workforce of 130 professionals, the company also has offices distributed throughout the northern Iberian Peninsula, including in Logroño, Pamplona and Donostia. In 2023, Arpisa recorded a turnover of 152.8 million euros and a net profit of 5.97 million euros.
The integration of Arpisa under the umbrella of a major player such as Grupo Jorge not only consolidates the group’s position in pork, but opens a new and significant avenue for growth in poultry, introducing a major operator with extensive international experience into the Spanish broiler market.
For further reading:
-. Grupo Jorge to invest 60 million euros in an industrial hub in Zaragoza. (October 2022). The Aragonese company is the largest pork processing group in the country and fifth largest in Europe. The hub will comprise a logistics zone and an industrial zone. The plan is to invest 250 million euros over six years and create 1,000 jobs.
-. Sergio Samper, CEO of Grupo Jorge, included in Forbes list of the most outstanding business leaders of the year (December 2024)
-. The Samper-Rivas family (Diario El Mundo, 2025)