Cobb-Vantress and Irvine’s Group today celebrated the official opening of Cobb East Africa Limited, a joint venture Grandparent Facility located in Naibili Village, Siha District, Kilimanjaro Region. The joint venture combines Cobb’s global poultry genetics expertise with Irvine’s deep knowledge of African markets, marking a significant combined investment in the future of poultry production, food security, and agricultural development across East Africa.
The official opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the Siha District Commissioner’s office, the Tanzanian Department of Veterinary Services, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, regional poultry producers, and leadership from Cobb-Vantress and Irvine’s Group.
Guests toured the new facilities ahead of keynote addresses from Shelby Watkins, President of Cobb-Vantress; Will Sawyer, Vice President of Global Business Operations and Strategy at Cobb-Vantress; Craig Irvine, CEO of Irvine’s Group; and Theo Bezuidenhout, General Manager of Cobb East Africa.
The establishment of Cobb East Africa marks a significant strategic milestone
reflecting a long-term commitment to establishing a genetics supply base in East Africa. Rather than supplying African markets from facilities overseas, Cobb is investing at source, bringing high quality Grandparent genetics into the heart of the region it serves.
East Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for poultry demand, driven by population growth, rising incomes, and increasing demand for affordable protein across the continent. Historically, African producers have relied on breeding stock imported from overseas, exposing supply chains to long transit times, logistical complexity, and cost. Cobb East Africa directly addresses this, establishing a dedicated genetics supply base at the centre of the continent.
The Grandparent Facility will produce Grandparents in support of generating Parent Stock for supply to poultry producers across Sub Saharan Africa. Approximately 140 jobs have already been created through the development of the facility, with 98% of employees being Tanzanian citizens, contributing directly to local economic activity and improved livelihoods in surrounding communities.
For poultry producers across the region, Cobb East Africa improves the quality and reliability of supply. With Parent Stock now produced on the continent, customers benefit from significantly shorter lead times, more secure and resilient supply chains, and greater regional responsiveness to changing market conditions. The proximity of the facility also enables stronger on-the-ground technical support and closer collaboration with Cobb specialists — helping customers achieve improved flock performance and productivity at farm level.
Cobb East Africa brings together two organisations with deep roots in the global poultry industry. Cobb-Vantress, founded in 1916, is the world’s oldest pedigree broiler breeding company. Irvine’s Group, Cobb’s oldest distributor globally, has operations across seven countries and supplies Cobb Parent Stock to producers in more than 18 nations across the continent. The joint venture combines Cobb’s global genetics leadership and technical expertise with Irvine’s Group’s established networks, operational experience, and on-the-ground expertise, enabling the partnership to better serve East Africa’s rapidly growing demand for high-quality, affordable poultry protein.
“The opening of Cobb East Africa represents a major step forward in our long-term commitment to the African poultry industry,” said Shelby Watkins. “This investment is about more than expanding production capacity, it is about strengthening food security, supporting local farmers, creating sustainable employment opportunities, and helping make high-quality protein more accessible and affordable for families across East Africa. We are proud to partner with the region as it continues to grow and develop its agricultural potential.”
Theo Bezuidenhout added: “This is the culmination of years of planning and shared vision. The impact on local employment and economic activity has already been significant, and we believe this is only the beginning for what Cobb East Africa can deliver for the region.”
Craig Irvine, CEO of Irvine’s Group, said the joint venture was the natural culmination of a relationship stretching back to 1962. “Irvine’s Group has distributed Cobb genetics across Africa for more than six decades. We know this market deeply, and Cobb East Africa demonstrates what is possible when you combine that knowledge and experience with the world’s finest poultry genetics.”
Will Sawyer said “Facilities like Cobb East Africa help position us to better support customers through improved surety of supply and enhanced service capability, as the poultry industry in East Africa continues to show strong potential for growth.”
The Siha District Commissioner welcomed the investment and its contribution to regional development. “Projects such as Cobb East Africa demonstrate the important role that agriculture and private sector partnerships play in driving economic development, creating jobs for our communities, and improving food security,” the Commissioner said. “We are encouraged by the company’s commitment to local employment and skills development, and we look forward to seeing the positive long-term contribution this facility will make to the region and to Tanzania as a whole.”
Cobb East Africa helps secure supply at source — empowering growers across the continent, strengthening the regional industry, and improving access to affordable, high quality chicken protein for the rapidly growing African Continent.