Al Islami Foods has announced two points increase in market-share and 59 per cent growth in net sales until July-end this year.

Al Islami is a leading halal food producer in the Middle East.

“The main engine of solid growth is our commitment of offering real halal to the consumer. Today we are celebrating a marked success in the local market. We are confident that we will win the trust of growing Muslim communities in international markets as well,” said Al Islami Foods chief executive officer Saleh Abdullah Lootah.

With this growth, Al Islami has emerged a market leader in the frozen chicken market in the key supermarket chains in the UAE, capturing 25 per cent market share.

Consolidating its presence in the local and international markets, Al Islami signed memorandums of understanding with state-owned Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders in UAE and Halal Industry Development Corporation, an organisation wholly owned by the government of Malaysia. In addition, the company inked franchise agreements with Mo’men food chain in Egypt and a joint venture in Iran, for processing and distribution of Al Islami products.

As a result of overwhelming success of Al Islami Cart in UAE, launched during Gulfood 2007, the concept now has been introduced in Egypt, Iran and Malaysia, Lootah said.

In Europe, Al Islami is on the final stage of signing a joint venture with 3663 First For Foodservice, UK’s $3 billion leading foodservice distributor, to tap UK’s $4 billion halal food market with Al Islami’s range of halal and nutrient products, the company said.

At a later stage, the joint venture will cater to Muslim communities in the continental Europe in a bid to create Al Islami’s “Real Halal” benchmark in the industry.

“Scientifically proven health benefits of Halal food have attracted an unprecedented demand for these products across the world, from both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers alike, which is expanding halal market from local to global”, Lootah added.

Earlier this year, Al Islami Foods announced its strategic five-year regional and international expansion plan, product development and distribution efficiency as part of company’s new strategic vision. – TradeArabia News Service