en.Wedoany.com Reported - Pamplona Alimentos, based in Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina, one of Brazil's leading pork processors, has recently entered a new phase of development. After 78 years under direct control of the founding family, the company has hired its first professional CEO and is formulating a strategy that combines industrial expansion, potential acquisitions, and innovation investments to accelerate growth in the coming years.
New CEO Ronaldo Kobarg Müller stated that the company does not want to maintain the status quo and that Pamplona will grow. Müller joined the company as Vice President in 2023, bringing 40 years of experience in the agricultural sector, having worked at major protein companies such as Sadia, Seara, JBS, and Pif Paf. The previous CEO, Irani Pamplona Peters, a daughter of the founding family who had held the position since 2009, has now transitioned to Chair of the Board of Directors. The third generation of the family still holds key strategic department roles, primarily in commercial and innovation areas. Of the current seven directors, four come from the market and three belong to the controlling family.
Müller stated that while retaining some family management, the company is implementing governance practices similar to those of publicly traded companies, but has no plans to list on the B3 stock exchange. He said the company is undergoing a transformation to become a more professional enterprise while respecting the cultural values built over 78 years. In this context, Müller aims to drive business growth.
After achieving R$2.5 billion in revenue in 2025, the company expects 8% growth this year, driven by capacity expansion, new product launches, and operational efficiency improvements. Müller assessed that the company has two growth paths: endogenous expansion based on existing capacity and M&A transactions. To support organic growth, the company plans to invest R$150 million this year in innovation and production system improvements. Approximately R$65 million of this will be used to expand piglet production by building two new pig farms over a three-year period, with funding support from Finep, the Brazilian federal government's innovation agency. The Ribeirão Vassouras pig farm will be built in Pouso Redondo, Santa Catarina, with an investment of R$52.8 million as part of a genetic improvement program. In Rio do Sul, the Lauro Pamplona pig farm will be built, a center for genetic diffusion and high-genetic-index boar semen processing, with an estimated investment of R$11.2 million. Additionally, the company plans to invest approximately R$80 million in factory automation and technology for developing differentiated products on its production lines.
The company recently invested R$144 million to upgrade its plants in Rio do Sul and Presidente Getúlio, focusing on improving pig farms and the feed mill in Laurentino. Müller emphasized that for continued future expansion, organic growth alone is insufficient, and the company is open to acquiring other companies or their industrial facilities. He stated that if a target is found that aligns with the culture, offers technological complementarity, and enables differentiation, the company would consider an acquisition in the market, but no specific timeline has been set.
In terms of product strategy, the company recently launched a product line designed for direct cooking in air fryers, targeting the trend of air fryers reaching 44% of Brazilian households. Müller stated that these products cook quickly and aim to provide convenience. The company is also monitoring the growing trend of weight-loss pen users in Brazil and the resulting demand for "high-protein" foods. A survey by the Locomotiva Institute showed that 62% of Brazilians reported knowing someone who is currently using or has used GLP-1 class injectable medications. Müller believes the high-protein diet trend associated with weight-loss drugs will persist and sees it as an opportunity. According to the Brazilian Food Composition Table (TACO) published by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), raw pork loin contains an average of 22.6 grams of protein per 100 grams, higher than skin-on chicken breast (20.8 grams) and fat-trimmed top round beef (21.6 grams) for the same weight. However, Müller has not yet seen a specific impact from the increased demand for high-protein foods on the company's sales, believing the effect will take some more time to materialize.
Müller also sees growth potential in the Brazilian domestic market. In 2025, Pamplona's domestic sales reached R$1.27 billion, accounting for 50.3% of total revenue. He emphasized that Brazil's per capita pork consumption is currently 19 kg, lower than Germany's 55 kg, indicating significant growth potential. He believes that for every 1 kg increase in Brazilian per capita consumption, approximately 220,000 tons of additional pork demand would be generated. In 2025, the company's exports accounted for 49.7% of total operating revenue, with export value reaching R$1.26 billion. The company exports to 22 countries, with Asia being the main destination, including China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Malaysia. Müller assured that domestic sales will maintain a proportion similar to exports.
From a financial perspective, the company's net debt decreased by 2.3% last year to R$329.6 million, with a leverage ratio of 2.0 times EBITDA. Müller considers the company's financial situation very comfortable. Two years ago, the company issued R$60 million in Agribusiness Receivables Certificates (CRA), subscribed by Kinea and included in the portfolio of its Fiagro product KNCA11. The company currently has no plans to issue another CRA or other debt instruments, intending to continue financing expansion through its own funds and long-term credit lines. Net profit fell approximately 35% in 2025, from R$85.8 million in 2024 to R$56.3 million. Müller explained this was because the company chose to use its own funds for investments to avoid taking on debt during a period of high interest rates.
