JEDDAH, 13 November 2007 — Halwani Bros. yesterday announced its preparations to convert itself into a joint stock company. “The change over is aimed at increasing our sales from SR600 million to SR2 billion in five years,” Saleh Ahmed Hefni, CEO, Halwani Bros., told a press conference at its headquarters in Balad.
The status of a joint stock company would help supply the needs of the local market aside from meeting growing requirements of the Arab and world markets, he said.
He said increasing production capacities of the company’s various manufacturing factories would enable expansion of its market share. These include the Mamoul factory manufacturing the Mamoul brand of products. Its increased production capacity will raise the market share from 27 to 40 percent and the Murabba factory producing jams capacity would go up by 110 percent, thus boost its market share from 35 percent to 50 percent.
Its sweet creams factory will increase its production capacity by 70 percent and raise its market share from 50 to 65 percent. The production capacity of its meat factories will be up by 100 percent in the Kingdom and 50 percent in Egypt.
The company’s strategy also aims at doubling the number of accredited distributors outside the Kingdom from the current number of 35.
The company also has a strategic plan to enter new markets in addition to current markets to cover a total of 32 countries, Hefni added.
The company’s 10 factories at the Jeddah Industrial City are producing more than 500 different products such as meat, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream, as well as sweetened creams, jams and packed food items including Mamoul and juices.
The company’s five factories in Cairo manufacture products that include cold storage meats and creams to jams and Mamoul. All these products have helped the company to enjoy a 52 percent market share locally, Hefni said.
The company, after becoming a joint stock entity, will implement a plan to further raise its operational levels and apply stringent regulations and administrative systems to improve the general performance of the firm.
It will continue to remain committed to the highest standard in terms of production processes and quality. “Such a move will give a distinct identity to the company,” he said, adding that the company is also committed to improve its Saudization plan through a program of employing young Saudis and give them training.
The company manufactures a wide range of food and foodstuffs including Halawa Tahiniyah, Tahina jams and honey, dairy products, white cheese, yoghurt, oriental icecream, and processed meat and cheese.