Luxury brand Hermès is expanding its crocodile breeding operations with a new farm-laboratory in the Northern Territory of Australia. The company plans to convert a former melon and banana plantation near Darwin into a crocodile breeding facility, aiming to raise up to 50,000 crocodiles in the next five years. The project involves a $7.25 million transaction and an additional $40 million in development operations.
The new facility will include an egg incubation laboratory, a growth enclosure, an open area, and a solar park, according to ABC. This is not Hermès’ first venture into crocodile breeding in Australia as the brand invested in a farm a decade ago.
Despite criticism from animal rights groups, including PETA, Hermès remains committed to using exotic leathers, unlike Chanel and Mulberry. The luxury brand focuses on ensuring the traceability of its supply chain and has audited all crocodile farms, processing sites, and skin inspections through Bureau Veritas. They have also collaborated with local authorities and NGOs to establish breeding standards, leading to the creation of the International Crocodilian Farmers Association (ICFA) standard in 2018.
Australia is the leading country in the trade of crocodile skins, making it a strategic location for Hermès to expand its luxury goods production.
Links:
– Hermès Official Website
– International Crocodilian Farmers Association (ICFA)
