The acquisition comes after the West Valley egg farms lost 3 million egg-laying chicken to bird flu<\/a> earlier this year in May.<\/p>\n \u201cExpanding into the United States has long been a vision for our family, and taking this step through the acquisition of Hickman\u2019s makes this moment especially meaningful,\u201d Mantiqueira Founder Leandro Pinto said in the announcement. \u201cHickman\u2019s is a respected leader with a legacy of quality and service. Combining their deep industry expertise with our global experience positions MTQ USA for long-term success.\u201d<\/p>\n Details on Hickman\u2019s Family Farm acquisition<\/p>\n The purchase of the egg producer is being used to not only launch MTQ USA but also as the joint venture\u2019s formal entry in the U.S. market.<\/p>\n \u201cBy partnering with the Pinto Family through MTQ USA, we are creating strong synergies that will enhance collaboration, improve efficiency and accelerate innovation,\u201d JBS USA CEO Wesley Batista Filho said. \u201cHickman\u2019s brings decades of experience and credibility in the American egg industry, and together we see significant opportunity to deliver more value to customers across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n After losing millions of its egg-laying hens to avian influenza, Hickman\u2019s Family Farm confirmed layoffs of 85 employees<\/a> in June and cited the outbreak as the reason.<\/p>\n \u201cOur family has spent generations building a company rooted in excellence and integrity,\u201d Hickman\u2019s Family Farm President and CEO Glenn Hickman said. \u201cWe are confident that this transition will bring even greater opportunities to our customers, employees and partners.\u201d<\/p>\n We want to hear from you.<\/p>\n Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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