Dishes such as tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) and yakiton (grilled skewered pork) can be found across Japan, from the humblest street stalls to the finest restaurants.
Japan imported more than 900,000 tons of pork from around the world in 2021 and Mexico was one of the key exporters feeding demand.
One of the largest fully integrated pork producers in Mexico, Granjas Carroll de Mexico (GCM) has been exporting its high-quality, sustainable Altosano pork brand to Japan since 2020.
“Traceability and food safety are evident throughout our entire value chain,” explained GCM export director Ricardo Barreda.
“Our production methods meet all international standards and have given Altosano the competitive advantage to succeed in Japan. We produce 1.8 million pigs a year and raise them at 2,400 meters above sea level. We provide quality housing conditions where the animals can move freely and a healthy balanced feed which we formulate and produce.”
GCM has 30 years of experience and is the first Mexican company to obtain an international certification from Cloverleaf Animal Welfare. The company’s commitment to sustainability has led to ISO14001-2015, ISO22000 and ISO50001 certifications.
“All of Altosano’s pork meat comes from our own farms and we have the most advanced and automated pork-processing plant in the Americas, which enables traceability from the farm to the box,” Barreda shared.
GCM currently exports 18% of its production to Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, the United States and Canada. The company is increasing its export capacity by 30% and Japan is a key target market.
Altosano frozen products exported to Japan reach food-processing and service companies while fresh, chilled vacuum-packed pork products are sold in various Japanese supermarkets, such as Japan Meats.
“Japan is justifiably strict with regard to the quality of food the country imports,” Barreda said.
“We are confident that Altosano will remain a popular choice in Japan and we look forward to strengthening our partnerships in the Japanese market.”
