Overview & History

ELFORA Agro-Industries PLC is a private agro-industrial company in Ethiopia. It was established in December 1997 through the acquisition of eight livestock and meat processing plants from the Ethiopian government, as part of privatization, for about USD 54.7 million. It is part of the MIDROC Investment Group, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi.

The name “ELFORA” combines two Borena Oromo words: “ELA” (permanent water point) and “FORA” (rainy season grazing). It also reflects the idea of producing high-quality livestock and meat through both traditional and modern systems.

From its beginning, ELFORA was structured into three main operational areas:

Poultry operations (table eggs, broiler meat, day-old chicks)

Livestock operations (live animal supply, feedlots, ranches, purchasing centers)

Food processing and crop production (meat plants, canned products, cereals, pulses, vegetables)

Operations, Products & Markets
Products

Meat & Livestock: Beef, mutton, goat meat (fresh, chilled, frozen), carcass cuts, canned meat products, and live animals for fattening.

Poultry: Table eggs, fertile eggs, broiler meat, and day-old chicks, produced mainly at their Bishoftu poultry farm.

Crops & Vegetables: Maize, haricot beans, soybeans, fruits and vegetables like avocado, papaya, tomato, onion, and carrot.

Other Services: Real estate operations, guest houses, office rentals, and slaughter services.

Facilities

The company operates a wide network of facilities, including:

Kombolcha Agro-Processing Plant and Abattoir

Melge Wondo Agro-Processing Plant and Farm

Shallo Integrated Farm

Netle Farm

Cheffa Integrated Farm

Wonji Kuriftu Farm

Bishoftu Poultry Farm and Export Abattoir

Dire Dawa Abattoir

Gondar Abattoir

Export Markets

ELFORA exports mutton, goat, and beef carcass to Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as to African markets like Egypt, Djibouti, Congo-Brazzaville, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Scale, Employment & Performance

In its early years, ELFORA employed just over 1,000 people. Today, its workforce has grown to more than 7,000, with about 2,000 permanent staff.

Historically, the company faced challenges with profitability, reporting low returns on investment during its first decade due to capacity underutilization, fluctuating demand, and high logistics costs.

In recent years, ELFORA reports three consecutive years of profitability and has received gold-level taxpayer recognition from the Ethiopian government.

Strengths, Challenges & Recent Developments
Strengths

Vertical integration from farming to processing and export.

Wide geographic spread of operations across Ethiopia.

Strong backing as part of the MIDROC Investment Group.

Established export capacity with facilities designed to meet international standards.

Challenges

Historically low profitability and underutilized capacity.

High export logistics costs, especially related to air freight and cold chain requirements.

Exposure to external disruptions, including local conflicts and infrastructure issues.

Market volatility in both domestic and international demand.

Recent Developments

Import of Jersey dairy cows from Denmark to strengthen dairy operations.

Expansion of poultry operations and integrated farms.

Recognition as a top taxpayer and improved financial performance after past losses.

Current Position & Outlook

ELFORA is one of Ethiopia’s largest agro-industrial firms, spanning meat, poultry, crops, and processing. Its strong integration and support from a large conglomerate provide advantages, but challenges remain in improving efficiency, expanding value-added products, and navigating logistics and market risks.

Its outlook will depend on:

Boosting capacity utilization and operational efficiency.

Strengthening competitiveness in export markets.

Building resilience against political, economic, and climate disruptions.

Expanding into more processed and branded consumer products.