DUBAI, 24 June 2007 — At least seven beverage companies in the Arab world have agreed to form the Arab Beverages Association (ABA) as an offshoot of the first-ever Arab Beverages Forum where about 70 international and regional beverage industry executives and consultants recently gathered in Dubai.
Sharaf Dabbagh, president of Taaheel FZ LLC, a Dubai-based consultancy specializing in the Arab beverage industry, said in a statement that ABA will be based in Dubai with chapters in Cairo and Jeddah. “The Arab Beverages Association is being initiated by Taaheel and supported by Faragalla Group of Egypt and Al-Rabie of Saudi Arabia.
Dabbagh also announced the winners of the first Qatrah Awards which recognized the most innovative beverages brands available in the Arab market, they are: Celsius calorie-burning cola of Joseph and Gionis LLC for Best Carbonated Soft Drink; Danao juice milk drink of Al-Safi-Danone Co. Ltd for Best Juice Beverage; Al-Rabie MultiFruit and Vitamin Juice of Al-Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd for Best Health and Energy Drink; Activia fresh and healthy laban and yoghurt of Al-Safi-Danone Co. Ltd for Best Dairy Drink; Lipton tea of Unilever for Best Hot Beverage; and Al-Rabie Tetra Prisma Aseptic of Al-Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd. for Best Innovative Packaged Beverage.