Financial Crisis Hits Granja Tres Arroyos Leading to Legal Seizures and Mass Job Losses

Granja Tres Arroyos, a major national poultry company, is facing a severe financial crisis characterized by millions of dollars in legal claims and the paralysis of its plant in Capitán Sarmiento. The company and its affiliates, including Wade SA and Avex SA, are facing five executive lawsuits for debts totaling over 2.6 billion pesos and 115,000 US dollars. These legal actions, largely driven by Banco Credicoop, stem from rejected checks, unpaid promissory notes, and bank credits. The lawsuits target both corporate assets and the personal property of the De Grazia family, who own the company. The group's total quantified liability is estimated at 350.9 million US dollars, a situation exacerbated by the avian flu health emergency and the closure of markets.

The financial collapse has had a devastating impact on the town of Capitán Sarmiento, where the plant's halt has left approximately 1,000 workers in uncertainty. At least 300 employees have already received dismissal notices. Workers and their families have established a camp in front of the plant to protest unpaid salaries, missing bonuses, and the lack of clarity regarding the company's future. Reports indicate that the company had previously attempted a crisis prevention procedure and agreed to a salary reduction that was not fully compensated. Some employees reportedly received fragmented payments as low as 100,000 pesos per month.

Local authorities in Capitán Sarmiento have intervened to provide food assistance to affected families. Mayor Fernanda Astorino stated that the municipality is coordinating with utility providers and health insurance companies to support those unable to make payments. Local businesses fear a significant economic downturn, as the plant's activity is linked to up to 80 percent of the local economic movement.