During the year ended June 30, Colcom’s Triple C Farms delivered 56 570 pigs, down from 58 184 herds in the previous comparable period

Business Reporter
PORK producer Colcom Holdings Ltd says it expects to increase pig production by 27 percent in the first quarter of 2016 following the commissioning of a new production facility. During the year ended June 30, Colcom’s Triple C Farms delivered 56 570 pigs, down from 58 184 herds in the previous comparable period, Colcom said in statement last Friday.

The company, a unit of Innscor Africa said the new facility has the capacity to deliver 830 pigs per week, which will be achieved progressively in the first quarter of 2016. “Initial deliveries were made in June 2015 and the unit is expected to achieve capacity stated within the first quarter of 2016,” said Colcom.

Colcom plans to increase pig production capacity, initially by expanding existing facilities, and thereafter set up additional facilities, the group said. The initial expansion at the new facility will deliver an additional 600 pigs per month. “Stock feed milling capacities are being reviewed to assess the additional requirements of sustaining a larger herd.”

The company said it will rely on maze imports in light of inadequate supplies on the local market. The company will also commission a new pie plant to increase availability of the product. Revenues for the period under review declined 3 percent to $64,6 million and volumes were down 5 percent over prior year.

Operating profit before, however, increased by 2 percent to about $9 million due to increased efficiencies, the group said. Going forward, Colcom said: “The trend over the past year indicates declining revenues and with no clarity on policy changes required to stimulate the economy, we, again expect trading condition to be difficult.”

The group will, however, continue to work on growing sales into the informal market through expanded distribution networks, which will make the products available and accessible to a wider customer base.