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Al Islami Food Enters 
$5.6 Billion KSA Market

DUBAI — In a milestone move, Al Islami Foods, a leading halal food producer in the Middle East, has entered Saudi Arabia with signing a strategic distribution agreement with Arabian Trading Supplies, a leading distributor in Saudi Arabia, which will distribute a range of Al Islami’s healthy and real halal products under the brand name of ‘Co-op Islami’.

According to Saleh Abdullah Lootah, chief executive officer of Al Islami Foods, “The synergy with strong distributors such as the Arabian Trading Supplies will consolidate company’s efforts in developing the GCC’s halal food market and taking the Al Islami benchmark to the international arena, as part of our regional and global expansion plan.”

Saudi Arabia, with the population of 28 million, remains the largest market for food & beverage in the Gulf region as it represents 63 per cent of the $9 billion GCC food market.

The initial consignment of Co-op Islami products of frozen chicken and chicken parts has already been sent and distributed in Saudi Arabia and received a highly welcome response from the Saudi consumer market.

The Global Halal Food Market report of 2007, published by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada estimates the food market in the GCC region is worth $ 9 billion (Dh330 billion) where Saudi Arabia’s share is 63 per cent ($5.6 billion). Al Islami will cater to 28 million Saudi population with a range of premium products such as processed meat, frozen seafood with Al Islami’s unique selling proposition of real halal, which is hand slaughtered without stunning according to Islamic Shariah’. To ensure a seamless halal process, Al Islami deploys its representatives at source.

In 2009, Al Islami is preparing to consolidate its presence in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Jordan and Sudan markets.

· aneela@khaleejtimes.com