Al Islami Foods enters Saudi Arabia

Middle Eastern Halal food producer Al Islami Foods has entered Saudi Arabia, following the signing of a strategic distribution agreement with locally-based distributor Arabian Trading Supplies (ATS).

ATS will distribute a range of Al Islami's healthy Halal products under the brand name of Co-op Islami and will offer a range of premium products including processed meat and frozen seafood.

The initial consignment of Co-op Islami products of frozen chicken and chicken parts has already been distributed in Saudi Arabia, receiving an extremely positive response from the consumer market.

Saleh Abdullah Lootah, chief executive officer of Al Islami Foods, stated: “The UAE and Saudi Arabia enjoy everlasting traditional bonds. Emiratis consider Saudi Arabia their second home out of the UAE.

“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.”

The Global Halal Food Market report of 2007, published by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, estimated that the market in the GCC region was worth US $9 billion, with a 63% share of the business in Saudi Arabia.

Al Islami also confirmed that it would consolidate its presence in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Jordan and Sudan in 2009.