Bydgoszcz Meat Plants

Bydgoskie Zakłady Mięsne (Bydgoszcz Meat Plants) is one of the oldest and still operating meat processing companies in Poland, established on June 3, 1890, as a municipal slaughterhouse. Initially, the facility was communal, and its administrative buildings, designed by Carl Meyer, were constructed on Jagiellońska Street. The plant gained railway sidings, which facilitated the transport of raw materials. After World War II, the company underwent various organizational changes, reaching the peak of its production in the 1960s and 1970s, partly due to the establishment of the Regional Meat Industry Enterprise. During this period, cold cuts and canned meats were produced, with approximately 1,200 tons of meat products exported annually. In 1990, the plant gained independence, and a few years later, it moved to a newly built facility in Siernieczek. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, the company went bankrupt after a few years. In 2009, it was revived by a group of farmers who resumed production, focusing on cold cuts, especially those made according to traditional recipes, such as Kiełbasa Sucha z Kujaw (Kuyavian Dry Sausage) or Kiełbasa Biała (White Sausage). An interesting fact is that during the interwar period, the municipal slaughterhouse in Bydgoszcz also performed ritual slaughter for the Jewish community. Today, the company operates under the brand "Drobex," also offering poultry products. Its history reflects the fate of the Polish economy, showcasing both survival through difficult times and adaptation to changing market realities.