Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Fuertes and Lusiaves expand as Spain’s chicken sector consolidates
Grupo Fuertes has bought two Spanish poultry businesses this year, adding to its presence in the country’s chicken sector.
The company, which owns ElPozo, bought the businesses behind chicken producers Tolvasa and Paasa in July, then acquired supplier and distributor Nutrave.
Portugal’s Lusiaves bought Padesa, a Catalan company that ranks eighth in Spain by chicken sales; Peru’s Valora joined the deal as a minority investor.
These deals are part of a wider wave of acquisitions, with foreign companies already owning three of Spain’s 10 largest chicken producers.
Chicken consumption in Spanish homes rose 5% in 2025, and the ministry says the meat is popular partly because it is affordable and versatile.
Spain is also Europe’s second-largest chicken producer, behind Poland, and the ministry says the sector’s favorable relationship between costs and prices is supporting business.
More deals are expected to concentrate the sector, although rising feed costs linked to geopolitical uncertainty could affect producers and consumers.
Grupo Fuertes and Portugal’s Lusiaves are expanding in Spain’s chicken sector as the industry sees rising consumption and favorable conditions for profitability.
Grupo Fuertes, owner of ElPozo, acquired the company behind chicken businesses Tolvasa and Paasa in July and recently announced its purchase of poultry supplier Nutrave.
Lusiaves acquired Catalan producer Pavo y Derivados (Padesa) this month, with Peru’s Valora participating as a minority investor.
Other recent deals include Dutch producer Plukon’s purchase of Madrid-based Avimosa in May.
Fresh chicken was the most consumed type of meat in Spanish households in 2025, when consumption rose 5%.
- Who
- Grupo Fuertes and Portuguese company Lusiaves are expanding, alongside other poultry producers.
- What
- Fuertes acquired the company behind Tolvasa and Paasa and announced the purchase of Nutrave. Lusiaves acquired Padesa.
- When
- In 2026: Fuertes bought Tolvasa and Paasa in July, and Lusiaves acquired Padesa in October.
- Where
- Spain, including the Catalan company Padesa.
- Why
- Rising chicken consumption and favorable costs and prices are attracting companies to the sector.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ukrainian company MHP took ownership of Uvesa.
Dutch poultry producer Plukon bought Madrid-based Avimosa.
Grupo Fuertes acquired the company behind Tolvasa and Paasa.
Lusiaves acquired Padesa, and Fuertes announced its purchase of Nutrave.
- Fresh chicken consumption
- Rose 5% in Spain in 2025
- Padesa
- Eighth-largest chicken producer in Spain by turnover
- Spanish production
- Spain is Europe’s second-largest chicken producer, behind Poland
- Foreign ownership
- Three of Spain’s ten largest chicken operators are in foreign hands
- Fuertes acquisitions
- Tolvasa and Paasa, and Nutrave
What people are saying
In recent months, large international operators have bought chicken companies in Spain. Three of the country's ten largest operators are already in foreign hands. Against this trend, Grupo Fuertes' two acquisitions in 2026 are an important counterweight: they keep production in the hands of Spanish family businesses.
In 2025, fresh chicken became the most consumed type of meat in households.
The sector is experiencing a historic favorable relationship between costs and prices.