PAFCO's Expansion Plans
“These are mostly additives into our base product and will give us a bit more diversification into our market,” PAFCO chairman Mahmood Khan said.
Friday 19 May 2023 | 16:55
Pacific Fishing Company board of directors, from left: Mike Terry, chairman Mahmood Khan, David Robertson and Lydia Lazel. Picture: Laiseana Nasiga
Four products are expected to hit the market shelves amid diversification plans at the country’s only tuna cannery.
Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) will roll out value-added products in the next three months, after the company board of directors said there was no certainty over how long they could stick to the budget.
“These are mostly additives into our base product and will give us a bit more diversification into our market,” PAFCO chairman Mahmood Khan said.
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“That might include things like curry, lolo, but that’s the future diversification that we are looking at.”
And bigger changes are planned for the company, particularly where it concerns the ailing infrastructure at the factory, where equipment was over 30 years old.
“We have been slowly budgeting to change it and there are some larger items which we will need to spend on,” Mr Khan said.
“We have a plan within the next five years to really change and make the factory look like a modern factory.”
Seven new board of directors of Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) had its first official meeting yesterday to discuss the company’s operations.
The appointment of the new board of directors was made on April 17.
The directors include Lydia Lazel, Epeli Maisema, Mike Terry, Brij Lal, Maciu Lagibalavu, David Robertson, Carol Watkins while continuing members are deputy chairman Ratu Etonia Seru.
In 2021, PAFCO manufactured 16 million cans of tuna.
Last year, the figure rose to 17 and a half million cans.
Another increase in production is planned this year.
Story by: laiseana.nasiga@fijisun.com.fj & shreeya.verma@fijisun.com.fj
