Alltech appoints Asia Pacific director as company expands

ANIMAL health and nutrition company Alltech has promoted Matthew Smith from general manager of its New Zealand branch to the role of Asia Pacific director as part of its Eastern expansion plans.

With the company for the past 15 years, Mr Smith has worked in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America regions, working with producers and global distribution networks, providing consultation on practical silage and general herd management.

In 2003, Mr Smith led the development of Alltech’s forage programme in Europe while serving as global product manager for Alltech’s Sil-All offering, a natural biological silage inoculant.

Alltech’s first plan for Asia Pacific is to commercialise the growth opportunities from the recent opening of the $200million (€140m) Alltech Algae facility in Kentucky, notably in developing new algae-derived feed products.

Alltech China was established in 1994, but the company has been active in the market since 1986 through its first distributor in Japan. The company has a presence in 17 Asia-Pacific countries.

Matthew Smith said: “We want to ensure that Alltech remains fully engaged with the evolving needs of the local feed industry and is well-positioned for proactive work within the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region.

“We have a superb team in place with a firm devotion to the future of the region and the industry, and they are fully committed to Alltech’s long-standing tradition of acting swiftly to meet the needs of local customers.

“The relocation of our Asia Pacific Bioscience Centre to Tianjin, China, will provide increased support to the swiftly growing Chinese market and focus on Alltech’s latest foray into pioneering natural technologies, Programmed Nutrition.

“This approach views the total animal throughout its life and uses specific feeding and feed management strategies to manage growth and product quality. It is not simply a change in feed formulation or supplementation strategy; it is a strategic shift in animal nutrition.”

Alltech’s other recent strategic changes in the Asia-Pacific region include: An increased investment into seven local production facilities with continued implementation of Alltech’s unparalleled AQS quality control system, which exceeds global standards and regulations.

The region is supported by a team of 14 analytical technicians who provide on-site quality control. In order to meet growing consumer demands, Alltech plans to open three additional production facilities throughout Asia and the Pacific over the next three years.

Alltech vice-president Steve Bourne said: “We are experiencing tremendous growth in the Asia Pacific market, up 21% for the year to date. Without doubt, this region offers the greatest opportunity to Alltech globally, given the population size, demographics, rising income levels and the propensity and desire for meat consumption.

“With the experience and leadership of Matthew, along with other strategic changes within the region, we have full confidence that Asia Pacific will become the first billion dollar region for Alltech.”