Patchi, a leading luxury chocolatier in the UAE and the Middle East region, said it has started work on its new manufacturing unit in Dubai Industrial Park.

The 122,000-sq-ft facility will boast major production zones, stores, service areas and Patchi’s new hitech headquarters which will complement the company’s ongoing growth and business in the region and across the world.

The ground-breaking was held in the presence of Saud Abu Al Al Shawareb, the chief operating officer of Dubai Industrial Park, Abdulla Belhoul, the chief executive of Dubai Wholesale City and Oussama Choucair, the chief executive of Patchi UAE.

Addressing the gathering, Al Shawareb said: "Patchi’s decision to build its new headquarters at Dubai Industrial Park is timely and will serve as its springboard for the Middle East market and beyond."

"The brand’s presence signals the status of Dubai Industrial Park as an ideal destination for manufacturers to establish and grow their businesses within an enabling and inspiring work environment. We are confident the new facility will allow Patchi to continue to register an exemplary growth trajectory and exceed consumer expectations," remarked Al Shawareb.

"We have a growing partner base of key players in the food sector and are committed to providing them with integrated offerings and a cost effective and efficient business ambience, while sustaining our leadership in the manufacturing industry," he added.

Choucair said Patchi was proud to have chosen Dubai and the UAE to build its largest and most innovative factory in the world.

"The new manufacturing plant will be one-of-its-kind with so many exclusive offerings aligned with the UAE Vision 2021, to be revealed at the opening that has been scheduled 18 months from now," he stated.

He also lauded Hussein Koleilat, the managing partner of Buildmark Contracting for implementing innovative design concepts to ensure the functionality of the project.

Patchi's new factory will enable the production of different varieties of chocolates to cater to a diverse market requirement.

The facility will also house 3,000 sq m of warehouse space to facilitate fast and efficient deliveries of Patchi’s chocolate products, said Choucair.

"We have full confidence in the UAE economy and we believe there is potential for Patchi to achieve great things here, especially with the support given by Dubai Industrial Park and the all the governmental entities that shape an ideal environment and infrastructure for investors. We are very proud to have our products made in the UAE" he added.

Integrating the highest quality of construction, sustainability and reliability standards in conformity with Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines, the facility when completed in end-2018 will include fully functional production zones, training center for chocolate professionals, service areas and management offices.

Earlier this year Patchi received a Halal certification from the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology. said the top official.

The accreditation makes the luxury chocolate brand the first chocolatier in the UAE to become halal certified, and the first halal certified manufacturer at Dubai Industrial Park, he added.

Patchi currently has more than 600 employees across 32 branches in the UAE and over 150 outlets in 23 countries around the world.-TradeArabia News Service