A European Union grant covered 40pc of the cost of the investment, said managing director Arpad Szabo. The hatchery can turn out 42m chicks a year, making it the biggest in Hungary, he added. Gallus is the majority owner of Taravis, the second-biggest slaughterer of broiler chickens in Hungary. When Taravis finishes a capacity expansion by the end of the year it will be capable of slaughtering 15m birds a year. The two companies expect to close 2010 with combined revenue of HUF 17bn, up 10pc from the previous year. Pre-tax profit is expected to exceed HUF 300m. In 2011, turnover is set to reach HUF 20bn, including a monthly EUR 1m in exports. The companies employed about 800 people on average in 2010.