JBS expands into egg production with 48.5% stake in Mantiqueira Alimentos
BRAZIL – JBS is expanding its presence in the animal protein industry by acquiring a significant stake in one of Latin America’s largest egg producers.
The global meat processing company has purchased 48.5 percent of Mantiqueira Alimentos and secured 50 percent of its voting shares.
The deal, valued at approximately US$156 million, marks JBS’s first move into the egg production sector.
JBS already operates in multiple protein markets, including beef, pork, chicken, lamb, farmed salmon, and plant-based alternatives.
Mantiqueira Alimentos oversees 17.5 million laying and rearing birds and produces around four billion eggs annually.
The Brazilian company has focused on free-range egg production since 2020 and has facilities in six states.
It employs more than 3,000 workers and supplies eggs to domestic and international markets across South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Mantiqueira’s Happy Eggs brand has become the fastest-growing in Brazil, specializing in free-range eggs.
Its Fazenda da Toca line leads the country’s organic egg segment, reflecting the company’s shift toward cage-free and sustainable production.
JBS stated that the acquisition, which is still subject to regulatory approval, would result in shared control with Mantiqueira’s founder and majority shareholder, Leandro Pinto.
In a statement to investors, JBS said the investment aligns with its strategy of diversifying protein sources and expanding its global reach.
Mantiqueira Alimentos is recognized as one of the region’s leading egg producers, offering a range of products that include cage-free, free-range, and organic eggs.
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