Our Roots

Construction begins on the Rio Branco Slaughterhouse in Visconde do Rio Branco, a municipality in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, to produce whole frozen chickens. Slaughtering operations began the following year, marking another important step in the growth of Cowade.

Integration begins in the Visconde do Rio Branco region with the inauguration of the first feed factory and hatchery. In the same year, Cowade entered the international market, becoming a pioneer in the commercialization of frozen chicken meat to regions of the Middle East. This milestone marked the beginning of the company’s global expansion and strengthened its position in the food industry.

The growth of Cowade continued with the acquisition of a hatchery and two breeding farms in Pará de Minas, further strengthening its production capacity and expanding its operations in Minas Gerais.

Another hatchery and two breeder farms were acquired in Pará de Minas, further supporting the continued expansion of Cowade. In the same year, the company inaugurated the Processed Products Factory in Viçosa, dedicated to the production of sausages and mortadella, expanding its portfolio and industrial capabilities.

Cowade began implementing its quality management system, starting with the 5S methodology, reinforcing a culture of organization, efficiency, and continuous improvement. During the same decade, the company also took an important step in strengthening its social role through the creation of the Mendes Costa Foundation in 1994 and the Maria Adelaide Mendes Costa School in 1995, demonstrating its commitment to education, community development, and social responsibility.

Cowade expanded its portfolio by starting the commercialization of pork cuts with the opening of its manufacturing plant in Patrocínio. In the same period, the company also inaugurated its sales unit in São Paulo, strengthening its commercial presence in one of the country’s most important markets and supporting continued growth across Brazil.

Cowade entered the ready-made pasta, cheese bread, pizza, and specialty foods segment with the start of operations at its unit in Leopoldina. This facility marked another important milestone in the expansion of the company’s product mix, broadening its portfolio with convenient and flavorful options that meet the evolving needs of consumers.

Cowade expanded into Goiás with the establishment of its first operations in the city of Paraúna, where a hatchery and breeding facility were initially installed. This milestone strengthened the company’s production network and supported its continued growth in new strategic regions.

Cowade inaugurated the Goiás Agro-industrial Complex, marking another important step in its expansion and production capacity. In the same period, the company innovated once again with the launch of its own seafood product brand, PescaNobre, further diversifying its portfolio and meeting new consumer demands.

Cowade launched the Ladelli brand to serve as its ambassador in the ready-to-eat products market. This launch reinforced the company’s strategy of innovation and portfolio diversification, offering consumers more convenient and high-quality meal solutions.

Cowade celebrated its 50th anniversary marked by many important achievements. In the same year, the company also earned two significant certifications that reinforced its sustainability vision: the GHG Protocol Gold Seal and the Mais Integridade Seal. With these recognitions, Cowade became the only poultry and pork company to hold certifications related to integrity, ethics, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability, highlighting its leadership and commitment to responsible growth.

Cowade expanded into southern Brazil with the acquisition of Fricasa, a company located in Canoinhas specializing in pork products. This acquisition strengthened Cowade’s presence in the region and expanded its capabilities within the pork production sector.

Cowade continued its growth journey with another strategic acquisition. Located in Castelo, Uniaves, the largest chicken processing plant in the state of Espírito Santo, became part of the Cowade family. This milestone strengthened the company’s production capacity and expanded its presence in southeastern Brazil.