About Us — Albanian Quail Farms | Our Story, Mission & Values

Who We Are

A Family Farm With European Vision

Albanian Quail Farms was founded in 2012 by the Hoxha family, who saw in the humble Japanese quail an opportunity to build a world-class agri-food business in Albania. Starting with just 500 birds and a barn, we have grown into Albania's largest dedicated quail farming operation with more than 50,000 birds across three farms.

Our mission is simple: to produce the highest-quality quail products in the Balkans, using fully natural farming methods, and to make them accessible to food businesses across Europe with professional B2B supply chain infrastructure.

✅ HACCP Certified ✅ EU Export License ✅ ISO 22000 ✅ Organic Practices

Albanian Quail Farm at sunset, Pogradec County Albania

Our Journey

A Decade of Growth & Achievement

2012 — The Beginning

A Farm is Born

Arben Hoxha starts Albanian Quail Farms with 500 Coturnix japonica quail birds in Starova, Buçimas, Pogradec, Albania. The first eggs are sold at local markets. The vision from day one: scale to European export.

2014 — First Expansion

Scaling to 5,000 Birds

After two profitable years, AQF expanded the main farm to 5,000 birds and opened a dedicated egg processing and packaging facility. First restaurant supply contracts signed in Tirana and Durrës.

2016 — Quality Certifications

HACCP & EU Export License Obtained

AQF achieved HACCP certification and obtained the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture's EU export license, opening the door to European market supply. First exports to Italy and Greece.

2018 — European Breakthrough

German & Austrian Markets Entered

AQF signed its first major wholesale contracts with German and Austrian food distributors. The farm expanded to 20,000 birds and opened a second facility in Durrës region to meet growing demand.

2021 — ISO 22000

International Quality Standard Achieved

Albanian Quail Farms is awarded ISO 22000 Food Safety Management certification — a milestone that opened premium retail partnerships across Northern Europe, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.

2024 — Present

50,000+ Birds & 18 Countries

Today, AQF operates three farms with over 50,000 quail birds, supplying 180+ businesses in 18 European countries. A new processing facility with cold-chain logistics hub is under construction in Vlorë.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Animal Welfare First

Our quail live in low-density, enriched environments with access to natural light, fresh air, and a diet free from growth hormones and antibiotics. Happy, healthy birds produce better products.

Uncompromising Quality

Every batch is tested by independent laboratories before leaving our farm. We maintain rigorous internal quality controls at every step of our production process, from egg collection to final packaging.

Environmental Responsibility

Quail farming has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any animal protein source. We complement this with sustainable water use, waste composting for local agriculture, and solar energy on our facilities.

Partner Success

Our clients' success is our success. We offer flexible MOQs, tailored packaging, co-branding options, and dedicated account management to ensure every partner scales confidently with us.

Transparency & Traceability

Full traceability from bird to shelf. Our digital tracking system allows partners to verify the complete supply chain history of every product batch — critical for EU food safety regulations.

Albanian Pride

We are proud to put Albania on the European food map. We employ 68 local workers, support local grain suppliers, and invest in community education programs in Fier County.

Our People

Meet the Leadership Team

👨‍🌾

Arben Hoxha

Founder & CEO

30 years in Albanian agriculture. Founded AQF with a vision to bring premium quail products to European markets. Expert in avian husbandry and agri-business scaling.

👩‍💼

Elira Hoxha

Director of Export & Sales

MBA from the University of Vienna. Leads all international sales, EU compliance, and partner relationships. Fluent in Albanian, German, and English.

🔬

Dr. Fatbardha Koci

Head of Quality & Food Safety

PhD in Food Safety Sciences, University of Tirana. Oversees all HACCP, ISO 22000, and EU regulatory compliance. 15 years in food safety management.

🚛

Gentian Basha

Head of Logistics

Expert in cold-chain agricultural logistics across EU. Manages our fleet of refrigerated vehicles and coordinates export customs with ports in Durrës and Vlorë.

Rooted in Tradition,
Driven by Excellence