Aviagen strengthens relationship with Vano Group through contract renewal

Edinburgh. – Aviagen^® and Vano Group renewed their Grandparent (GP) contract for the exclusive distribution of Ross^® parent stock (PS) in Iraq, on 15 November, during the Ross Middle East & Africa Association (RMEAA) in Dubai.

Vano Group were established in 2003, and is a leading poultry company in Iraq. Vano Group services their customers through the use of innovative management practices to offer a range of value-added goods including, Ross parent stock flocks, hatching eggs, commercial broilers, poultry feed and poultry vaccines and pharmaceuticals. They have around 70 employees, led by a professional and experienced management team. Dr Salah Bakir leads the team as Chairman and CEO, Eng. Karwan Mustafa as General Manager and Kawa Mustafa as Production Manager.

The team have vast experience and in-depth knowledge of the Iraqi poultry industry and the Ross breed. Customer service is extremely important to Vano Group and they have a highly skilled customer service team, supported by Aviagen’s Ross Middle East customer focus team, who work closely with customers to ensure they are able to maximize the genetic potential of their Ross flocks.

Vano Group’s head office is located in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and their GP farms are located in the Shaqlawa district, around 60km north of Erbil. The GP site is surrounded by mountains, making it a very isolated location from the local rural areas. Vano Group have recently made important upgrades to the GP facilities in order to improve biosecurity and the quality of their flocks to assist in ensuring food security within the country.

Karwan Mustafa, General Manager of Vano Group, commented, “In order to build a successful relationship, it needs to be mutually beneficial and managed with an emphasis on increasing trust. We have experienced this with Aviagen, especially during difficult times, and we are proud to be representing the well-known Ross 308 breed and assisting in making the breed a success in the Iraqi market. We look forward to enhancing our relationship with Aviagen and the Ross team, and are excited about the future of the Ross breed in the market.”

Bulent Tanyildizi, Business Manager, MENA added, “Recently, food security has become a key topic, with great importance in the global market. The Iraqi poultry market is a challenging one for the local broiler industry, as the country is relying on a considerable volume of poultry imports. Vano Group is doing a great job in supplying high-quality Ross 308 PS into the market, and supporting the Iraqi broiler industry to develop domestically. Aviagen appreciates Vano Group’s efforts and gives all possible support to ensure the local industry develops and that food security improves in the country. I believe signing the new contract will further improve the ongoing synergy in our business and will lead to an excellent outcome for the Iraqi poultry industry.”