An open invitation for cooperation to the Arta Poultry Cooperative, leaving open even the possibility of a much larger deal in the future, was extended by the management of the Agricultural Poultry Cooperative of Ioannina Pindos, in the wake of the agreement between the Nitsiakos group and MHP.
The management of Pindos announced its intention to proceed with a strategic cooperation with the Arta cooperative - note that in previous years it had faced serious financial problems while it had also received an approach from Nitsiakos -, which it describes as the first step for the creation of the largest cooperative scheme in Greek poultry farming, with a share that will exceed 45% of domestic production.
The management clarified, however, that to date there have been no contacts with the Arta cooperative and that the proposal is being made publicly for the first time. “We are putting into practice what we say, that Pindos is a big family. We are not fearful. We are open to collaborations and we insist on Greek and cooperative values”, said the president of the cooperative, Andreas Dimitriou.
The initiative comes at a time of reshuffling in the sector, following the agreement of the Nitsiakos group with the Ukrainian-interest group MHP. “It does not make anyone happy to see a Greek company being sold”, commented Pindos executives, stressing that Pindos' response is the strengthening of the Greek cooperative model and the development of collaborations between Greek businesses.
In the same context, the cooperative addressed a call both to independent poultry farmers and to cooperating Greek businesses. “We give cooperating producers the opportunity to become members of the cooperative”, it said, adding that about 100 producers are already considering this prospect.
At the same time, it was noted that there is an investment program amounting to 30 million euros until 2030, aimed at further strengthening the cooperative's production base and competitiveness.
Pindos completed 2025 with a turnover of 414 million euros, while the subsidiary Agrozoi recorded sales of 33 million euros. In addition, the cooperative's 600 poultry farmer-members made sales of approximately 170 million euros through their individual businesses.
The cooperative employs 1,700 workers, cooperates with 600 producers, has a fleet of 250 privately owned trucks, 18 distribution centers and a presence in more than 8,000 points of sale throughout the country.
It has more than 600,000 sq m of privately owned facilities, 400,000 breeding hens and produces approximately 55 million chickens annually. At the same time, it operates with a fully vertically integrated production model, having more than 300 product codes, activity in ready-made and frozen products, as well as a fertilizer production unit.