Yuriy Kosiuk, a former commodities broker from central Ukraine, founded MHP in 1998, building one of Europe's largest integrated poultry businesses. Now valued at billions, MHP produces over half a billion birds annually and has expanded across the continent during Russia's war. The company's rise has sparked tension with EU farmers, who argue MHP benefits from wartime trade concessions, undercutting local producers.

French President Emmanuel Macron previously criticized the imports, noting they enrich 'ce monsieur'. MHP's 'Batman cut' chicken breasts, a specific processing method, became a loophole for bypassing EU quotas, drawing accusations of circumventing the 'spirit' of EU law. While MHP denies preferential treatment, citing management efficiency and productivity, EU farming groups argue the company operates under Ukrainian standards.

MHP's executive chair, Australian John Rich, defends the expansion as vital for keeping workers employed and raising capital during conflict. The company has acquired key assets like Perutnina Ptuj and developed a retail network, exporting to 70 countries. With EU duties and quotas removed for three years, MHP sits at the center of a politically charged food fight, proving a Ukrainian company can withstand invasion while challenging European competitors.