Al-Kabeer Group, a leading frozen food producer in Saudi Arabia, has opened its new industrial facility at the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) as part of its strategic plan to expand its regional operations and boost production.

 

The new factory was inaugurated by the chief executive of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Dr Hisham bin Saad Al Jaddaei, in the presence of Al Kabeer Group general manager Ahmad Khan and KAEC chief executive Rayan Qutub and other officials.

 

The new factory has a built-up area of 7,943 sq m, with a total area of 44,493 sq m, leaving plenty of scope for future expansion. It has been designed with an annual production capacity of 9,000 metric tons, and currently employs 34 Saudi employees, 24 of which are female. 

 

The facility has been approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and has been provided with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure food safety and quality in line with the industry’s highest standards. 

 

It is also strictly Sharia-compliant and Halal, as is the case with all the company’s other major factories. The factory will operate under the same principles and ethics adopted by Al Kabeer Group.

 

KAEC Group CEO and managing director Fahd Al Rasheed said the opening of the new factory in the Industrial Valley will enrich the value and diversity of the Valley, which is now the main center for industrial and logistical services by the Red Sea. 

 

”We are also working on a number of additional strategic engines in the Economic City, such as real estate development for commercial and residential units, and investment in the tourism and entertainment industry, in order to actively contribute to the Kingdom’s socioeconomic growth,” he stated.

 

Khan said the Al Kabeer factory at KAEC was the company’s first in the kingdom, and will be followed by more.

 

“We chose to locate in the Industrial Valley because of the shipping facilities and distinct public services it offers as well as the different components of the Economic City. Also, the geographical proximity to the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah will facilitate the company’s provision of different products to pilgrims such as healthy, ready-made meals,” he added.

 

Al Kabeer Group was established in the Arab world 40 years ago, and has been present in the Saudi frozen foods market for 37 years. While the factory is the company’s first in the Kingdom, it is the third in the GCC. 

 

“The factory will contribute to advancing the kingdom’s socioeconomic development through the provision of employment opportunities for Saudi youth, not to mention its role in raising the demand for printing and packaging services and products,” noted Khan.

 

Welcoming Al Kabeer into KAEC, Qutub said: "It will be an important and valuable addition to the investments in the Economic City, as it is considered one of the trademarks that we rely on in achieving an added value that fits for our ambitions in providing local and international markets with high quality products.” 

 

KAEC is one of the largest and most significant privately run economic projects in the world. It is centered on the establishment of a 181 million sq m integrated city by the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah.-TradeArabia News Service