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.