When not participating in seminars on European exports and North American consumer trends, the guests of the Union of Producers and Employers of Meat Industry (UPEMI) were able to walk around Warsaw. The UPEMI representatives who joined us pointed out some of the sights and historic buildings in the area. Most of the city, due to destruction from World War II and the Soviet occupation that followed, was rebuilt in the 1950s or later. In spite of the damage that had been done to the city, today’s Warsaw is vibrant, modern and exciting. The feeling was similar at the processing plants that we visited. Even though they may have been started during uncertain economic and political times, the companies weathered the down times and came out stronger on the other side. The plants were high-tech and producing high-quality meats for customers in Poland and around the world.
The second company that we visited was Skiba Meat Company, located in Chojnice. The company was founded by Andrzej and Miroslawa Skiba in 1991 as a processing plant, and it has grown to become one of the largest processors in the country. Despite the size, the company is still very family-oriented. Two of the Skibas’ daughters work in the company, and another is expected to join one day. Numerous employees have been with the company for many years, adding to the extended family feel.