RIYADH, 12 July 2005 — In what is billed as a revolutionary concept of its kind in the food sector, a Saudi company has joined forces with a Kuwait-based firm to introduce nutritious and low-fat cakes, biscuits and wafers in the Kingdom. This new business plan, part of the companies’ commitment to ethical business practices, is primarily designed to cater to the needs of the health-conscious consumers including diabetics and the obese.
“Saudi Arabia’s Savana Corporation is currently setting up a network of distribution centers and depots around the Kingdom to ensure regular supply of low-fat food products,” said Mohammed Mukhlif Al-Subaei, chairman of the Riyadh-based Universal Mymoon Group (UMG), which owns and operates Savana. Al-Subaei said that they would acquire a fleet of 75 vans shortly in addition to their existing fleet and would open new branches in many Saudi cities including Abha, Madinah, Tabuk, Qassim, Hofuf and Arar.”
Al-Subaei was speaking after holding business talks with Gaurav Oberoi, one of the directors of the Kuwait Indo Trading Company (Kitco) on Sunday.
“The plan to import and produce such packaged food products, including biscuits and cakes, is significant as the number of people suffering from diabetes and obesity is growing in Saudi Arabia,” said Oberoi.
Diabetes, he said, was reaching pandemic proportions and children as young as 10 were being diagnosed with the condition, the main cause being treatable obesity coupled with unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.
About 45 percent of people — including children — in Saudi Arabia suffer from obesity. Other Gulf countries report similar trends. “It is high time also to monitor children’s lunch boxes to reduce the amount of fat and sugar intake,” said Al-Subaei and Oberoi. They advised that special snacks and biscuits should be included in the diets of children and adults alike.
