Meat processing and animal by-products 133
The Danish meat industry builds on a long history based on cooperative
ownership. Ever since the first cooperative slaughterhouse was formed in
1887 in Horsens, the industry has been capable of renewing itself through
restructuring. In the 1970s the industry went through a national consolidation
driven by technological development that justified larger facilities. In the
1980s consolidation was more market driven, where larger sizes made it easier
to access new and larger markets (Tüchsen, 2014).
In the last 15–20 years, the restructuring of the sector has been characterised by European consolidation and internationalisation of markets (Hansen,
Egelyng, Adler & Bar, 2015). Today the industry in Denmark is characterised
by four to five large slaughterhouses (>500 employees) and around 100
smaller (1–50 employees) ones.
Danish Crown is one of the largest meat processors in the world. It is collectively owned by farmers in Denmark and is responsible for 80% of all pigs and
50% of cattle slaughtered in Denmark. TICAN was acquired by the German
slaughterhouse Tönnies and is responsible for around 10% of pigs slaughtered in
Denmark. Danpo is part of Scandi Standard, which is a leading producer of
chicken- based food products in the Nordic region, with headquarters in
Sweden. Danpo is responsible for the majority of chickens slaughtered in
Denmark. Finally, Skare Beef and Himmelandskød each slaughter around 15%
of cattle in Denmark. Slaughterhouses have recently intensified their interest in
valorisation of by- products by engaging in the restructuring of their production
facilities and establishing subsidiaries dedicated to handle ABPs. One example is
Danish Crown Ingredients, founded in 2014, and Farmfood A/S, founded in
2003 (owned by Danpo, BHJ and HKScan). The vertical integration of business
areas related to processing ABPs indicates that the industrial structure is changing in order to protect knowledge, innovation and new market opportunities.
In addition to slaughterhouses and meat processing companies, dedicated
by- product processors include DAKA (part of the German Group SARIA)
Table 7.1 Animal production in Denmark and Norway (2017 figures)
DENMARK
Animal production
(in brackets, export of live animals)
NORWAY
Animal production
Pigs (in 1,000 ton)
1,896 (302.3)
137.2
Poultry (in 1,000 ton)
174.4 (39.2)
101.0
Cattle (in 1,000 ton)
135.2 (1.8)
85.2
Egg production (in 1,000 ton)
68
66.7*
Mink fur (1,000 units)
17,900
–
Sheep (1,000 units)
76.5 (0.9)
1,376
Sources: Statistics Denmark: ANI8, PELS1, ANI4, ANI6, ANI5, ANI9; and Statistics Norway:
www.ssb.no/jord-skog-jakt-og-fiskeri/statistikker/slakt.
Note
* 2015 numbers, source: www.ssb.no/280562/produksjon-av-kjot-mjolk-egg-og-ull-sa-345.
The Danish meat industry builds on a long history based on cooperative
ownership. Ever since the first cooperative slaughterhouse was formed in
1887 in Horsens, the industry has been capable of renewing itself through
restructuring. In the 1970s the industry went through a national consolidation
driven by technological development that justified larger facilities. In the
1980s consolidation was more market driven, where larger sizes made it easier
to access new and larger markets (Tüchsen, 2014).
In the last 15–20 years, the restructuring of the sector has been characterised by European consolidation and internationalisation of markets (Hansen,
Egelyng, Adler & Bar, 2015). Today the industry in Denmark is characterised
by four to five large slaughterhouses (>500 employees) and around 100
smaller (1–50 employees) ones.
Danish Crown is one of the largest meat processors in the world. It is collectively owned by farmers in Denmark and is responsible for 80% of all pigs and
50% of cattle slaughtered in Denmark. TICAN was acquired by the German
slaughterhouse Tönnies and is responsible for around 10% of pigs slaughtered in
Denmark. Danpo is part of Scandi Standard, which is a leading producer of
chicken- based food products in the Nordic region, with headquarters in
Sweden. Danpo is responsible for the majority of chickens slaughtered in
Denmark. Finally, Skare Beef and Himmelandskød each slaughter around 15%
of cattle in Denmark. Slaughterhouses have recently intensified their interest in
valorisation of by- products by engaging in the restructuring of their production
facilities and establishing subsidiaries dedicated to handle ABPs. One example is
Danish Crown Ingredients, founded in 2014, and Farmfood A/S, founded in
2003 (owned by Danpo, BHJ and HKScan). The vertical integration of business
areas related to processing ABPs indicates that the industrial structure is changing in order to protect knowledge, innovation and new market opportunities.
In addition to slaughterhouses and meat processing companies, dedicated
by- product processors include DAKA (part of the German Group SARIA)
Table 7.1 Animal production in Denmark and Norway (2017 figures)
DENMARK
Animal production
(in brackets, export of live animals)
NORWAY
Animal production
Pigs (in 1,000 ton)
1,896 (302.3)
137.2
Poultry (in 1,000 ton)
174.4 (39.2)
101.0
Cattle (in 1,000 ton)
135.2 (1.8)
85.2
Egg production (in 1,000 ton)
68
66.7*
Mink fur (1,000 units)
17,900
–
Sheep (1,000 units)
76.5 (0.9)
1,376
Sources: Statistics Denmark: ANI8, PELS1, ANI4, ANI6, ANI5, ANI9; and Statistics Norway:
www.ssb.no/jord-skog-jakt-og-fiskeri/statistikker/slakt.
Note
* 2015 numbers, source: www.ssb.no/280562/produksjon-av-kjot-mjolk-egg-og-ull-sa-345.