Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Asian frozen food giant Al Kabeer on Tuesday opened its largest production facility in the region at King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, 120 km from Jeddah. The plant – with an initial annual capacity of 9,000 MT in 7,943 square meters space and a built up area of 44,923 square meters – features state-of-the-art technology that not only delivers products faster to the market by cutting time, but also reduces waste and energy consumption. Hisham Bin Saad Al Jaddaie, executive chairman of Saudi Food and Drug Authority, who inaugurated the plant, said SFDA encourages food quality at all levels from raw ingredients to final product level. "We can achieve quality through successful partnership with international manufacturers and stimulating investments in this direction", he said. Al Jaddaie further said SFDA is accelerating its efforts to boost highest standards in quality in food sector and make it a valuable contribution to the Kingdom as part of vision 2030. Rayan Al Qutubi, chief executive officer of KAEC, who was chief guest, said that King Abdullah Economic City has become a growing destination of choice for industrial sector, as it provides modern infrastructure, an investment friendly environment for business for investors from Kingdom and also from abroad. He lauded Al Kabeer for pressing latest technologies and commitment to the highest sustainability and environmental friendly quality standards, which reflects the Kingdom's vision for more sustainable world that improves quality of life. Al Qutbi said manufacturing and processing sector adds value to the national economy. Ahmed S. Khan, director of Al Kabeer group, discussed the group's nearly four decades association with Kingdom, which he described as valued and strategic partner of its core business. He said its group's first plant in the Kingdom and third in GCC, and forecast additional facilities in the future due to growing demand and preferred choice of customers. Ahmed Khan said that plant would contribute for economic growth in the region and providing employment for many Saudi nationals that includes significant number of women also. He said choosing Rabigh was a strategic decision. "It is a trade corridor that connects Madinah and Makkah, Jeddah, with important growth potential where Al Kabeer is eyeing to serve pilgrims with ready-made meals in near future. Praising the Kingdom authorities for their support, Ahmed Khan has hailed Vision 2030 strategic economic diversification plan. He said with the establishment of this facility, generating about 300 products that will carry the "Made in KSA" label is a matter of pride. Khan noted that Al Kabeer distributes over 300 products from meat, poultry, seafood and vegetable ranges as well as ready to cook products to more than 20,000 retail outlets in the Kingdom and rest of the world. Following the opening ceremony, Al Jaddaie and accompanying officials and S.C. Sbbberwal, chairman of Al Kabeer Group, toured the plant and met with senior team members from production and labs, who briefed them on the production line and process.
