Meat Corporation of Namibia

Meat Corporation of Namibia, locally known as MeatCo, is a meat processing company headquartered in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It is the largest exporter of prime beef in Namibia.[2]

MeatCo Namibia
FormerlySwameat Coorporation (1985-2001)
TypeLimited
IndustryFood
Founded1986
HeadquartersWindhoek, Namibia
Key people
Mushokabanji Mwilima (CEO), Johnnie Hamman (Chairperson)
ProductsBeef
Number of employees
743 (2018)[1]
Websitewww.meatco.com.na

History

The Swameat Coorporation was established in 1986 as a state organization in charge of meat production and exports in Namibia. In 2001, it changed its name to Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco).[3]

In 2003, following a EU ban on Namibian meat imports, Meatco had to return 17 containers of fresh meat to Africa.[4] In 2008, Meatco started exports to Switzerland and Dubai.[5]

According to The Namibian,[6] the government announced in June 2012 that the ownership of Meatco will be vested in a cooperative with a majority shareholding of 70 percent, and the government will own the remaining 30 percent.

In 2017, Meatco sent its first beef consignment to China.[7] In 2018, the company's losses dropped from N$51 million to N$18 million.[1]

In January 2020, Mwilima Mushokabanji, previously executive director of the Namibia National Farmers Union, was named the new CEO of the company.[8] The following month, Meatco became the first exporter of African beef to the USA[9][10] and resumed audits with the European Union in an attempt to export to Europe,[11] but also reached out to Botswana to import additional herds, after a severe drought in the country.[12] The company took the management of the Katima Mulilo abattoir from its private competitor Zambezi Meat Corporation (Zamco).[13]

On 6 May 2020, Johnnie Hamman, well known businessman and legal expert, was named the new Chairperson of the company.[14]

Description

Meatco mainly produces frozen, vacuum-packed beef cuts for export. In addition, ready-to-eat meat and corned beef produced. All organic products come from free-range Namibian cattle.

Meatco’s biggest clients currently are South Africa, the United Kingdom and Norway, although it has penetrated various other European and non-European markets including Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, China and Dubai. The company has facilities in Windhoek, Okapuka, Johannesburg, London, Oshakati, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo, Grootfontein, Okahandja among others. Its abattoirs are HACCP[15] and ISO 9001 accredited and have South African export status.[16]

Meatco owns 33.3% of GPS Norway AS.[1]

References
  1. "Annual report 2018/2019" (PDF). Meatco.com. 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. www.omalaetiit.com, Omalaeti Technologies, Namibia. "Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) - News -". www.meatco.com.na. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  3. "Meat Corporation of Namibia Act 1 of 2001" (PDF). Lac.org.na. 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. Hugh Ellis (11 December 2003). "Namibia: Export Ban Costs Meatco N$5m". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. "Meatco exports to new markets". Namibian.com.na. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  6. . 2012-08-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20120808043520/http://www.namibian.com.na/news/marketplace/full-story/archive/2012/august/article/governments-share-in-meatco-negative-and-positive. Archived from the original on 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2017-08-17. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "China now prime market for Namibian beef". Southerntimesafrica.com. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  8. Kuzeeko Tjitemisa (8 January 2020). "New Meatco CEO faces tough task - Jooste". Neweralive.na. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  9. "Meatco exports first consignment of beef to the USA". Economist Namibia. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  10. "Namibia first African country to export red meat to hungry U.S. market". Reuters.com. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  11. "Meatco passes annual EU audits". Neweralive.na. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  12. "Namibia looks to import cattle as drought decimates local herds". Reuters.com. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  13. "Meatco to run Katima abattoir again". Namibian.com. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  14. van Staden, Marietjie (June 2020). "How the new Meatco-chairperson sees the road ahead". AgriForum.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2012-10-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Namibia: Meatco?s Natures Reserve Praised By Norway". The Namibian (Windhoek). 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
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