Brazilian supplier of meat Minerva SA and two Chinese have agreed to form a joint venture to sell beef in China, Reuters reports.

The news agency quotes Minerva as saying: “The company aims to maximise its distribution channels in China, enabling new business opportunities, and to meet the growing demand for beef protein in China, which today accounts for approximately 15 percent of all global beef consumption.”

Minerva failed to identify its Chinese partners, but Reuters says they are meat distributors Chen Xuefang and Ge Wenbo, who are customers of the company.