RANDERS, Denmark – Danish Crown CEO Kjeld Johannesen is among the delegates joining Danish Prime Minster Helle Thorning-Schmidt on a trip to China, according to the company.

Danish Crown accounts for almost 10 percent of Danish exports to China, and the prime minister’s official visit is an opportunity for the company to make new contacts, the company said.

“China is Danish Crown's fastest-growing market,” Johannesen said. “In the past five years, we have doubled our exports to China, and we see considerable untapped potential for Danish pork there. So, of course, we are thrilled to be part of the Danish delegation."

Danish Crown ships what equates to a container load of Danish pork products every hour to China during peak demand, according to the company. Feet, heads and tails are particularly popular with Chinese consumers, and Danish Crown has annual sales of about 33 million trotters to China.

ESS-FOOD, a Danish Crown subsidiary, directs sales of products in China via three sales offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Qingdao. Casings company DAT-Schaub, another subsidiary, employs about 2,000 people at two factories in China, which are joint ventures with two Chinese companies.