Meatco receives clearance to supply Woolworths under its food safety requirements, acquires Blue Rating
Independent audit clears Meatco to supply Woolworths under its food safety requirements.
NAMIBIA – The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) has received a Blue Rating in a Woolworths food safety audit, a certification the company says meets the retailer’s supplier requirements and supports its plans to supply premium Namibian beef products to the southern African supermarket chain.
According to Meatco, independent auditors from AVUTOM Consultants carried out the assessment on 10 and 11 June 2026, reviewing the company’s production operations, food safety management systems, documentation, product traceability measures and animal welfare practices against Woolworths standards and South African red meat industry requirements.
The company said the outcome forms part of its ongoing efforts to meet food safety, product integrity and animal welfare expectations while maintaining continuous improvements across its processing activities.
Interim Chief Executive Officer Albertus Aochamub said the Blue Rating reflects the company’s focus on maintaining established food safety and operational standards throughout its production processes.
Aochamub added that the certification also aligns with Meatco’s strategy to increase the supply of consumer-ready beef products packaged in smaller retail portions, rather than concentrating mainly on bulk beef exports.
Norway exports and financial performance
The certification follows earlier updates indicating that Meatco had already used 45.2% of its annual beef export allocation to Norway by 17 April, having shipped 521,017.59 kilograms from its yearly quota of 1,153,477 kilograms.
The latest utilisation rate exceeded the levels recorded during the same period in previous years, with the company using 29.2% of its quota in 2024 and 23.4% in 2025, indicating that exports entered the Norwegian market earlier in the trading cycle.
Aochamub said the increased shipment volumes reflect changes in the company’s approach to market access and supply planning, with greater emphasis on securing export opportunities earlier in the year.
The export progress came after Meatco reported preliminary financial results showing revenue for the year ended 31 January 2025 increased to US$103.6 million from US$66.8 million in the previous financial year, while operating profit before tax reached about US$5.9 million compared with a loss of US$8.3 million a year earlier.
Management attributed the improved financial position to changes introduced through a restructuring programme launched in November 2024, including revised financial controls, governance measures and operational processes aimed at improving stability, market access, efficiency and producer pricing.
During the same reporting period, Meatco processed 75,268 cattle south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence and a further 7,844 cattle in the Northern Veterinary Area.
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