Kerry Group invests US$90.3M in new Saudi Arabia facility

25 Jan 2022 --- Kerry has officially opened a 21,500-square-foot facility at its Jeddah operation in Saudi Arabia to produce sustainable food ingredients. These will be distributed across the Middle East, particularly in the snack, meat and bakery sectors.

The company has invested over €80 million (US$90.3 million) in the region over the past four years. This new facility is Kerry’s largest in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region.

“Today’s consumer-led food revolution and the world’s environmental challenges are driving accelerated change and reshaping the entire food industry. The opening of our new facility at our Jeddah site is part of our commitment to continuing to grow our presence across the Middle East where we have invested over €80 million (US$90.3 million) since 2018,” remarks Edmond Scanlon, chief executive of Kerry Group.

He adds, “our continued growth and investment reflect the growing number of consumers in the region who are adopting a more proactive approach to their health and well-being and want to be able to consume food and beverage products that support their goals while also being respectful of our environment.”

Sustainable nutrition pipeline
The idea of sustainability has evolved to the concept of “sustainable nutrition,” as Juan Aguiriano, group head of sustainability at Kerry, previously told FoodIngredientsFirst in an interview.

The new facility, which currently employs 130 people, integrates sustainable nutrition technology platforms, laboratories equipped with unique testing capabilities while also being sustainable.

The facility will use robotics across the production line. 

“Our customers are our priority and our commitment is to bring local solutions to the Saudi market. We believe in global capability, executed locally, as seen in our local insight and team backed by Kerry’s global technical and operational expertise,” says Peter Dillane, vice president and general manager, Kerry Middle East, India and Sub-Saharan Africa (MISA).

“Our deep understanding of retail and foodservice channels enhances our ability to partner customers with greater success and make it easier and more valuable for them to do business with us.”

As part of Kerry’s Beyond the Horizon sustainability commitment, the new facility is also touted as highly eco-efficient. Since its initial conception in 2018, the factory carbon footprint has been reduced by 35% and there has been a 40% reduction in water usage. 

Kerry deems food safety as paramount, noting that the new facility was built on state-of-the-art Ready To Eat (RTE) standard of design and construction to uphold strict customer requirements for hygiene and food safety. 

The plant’s stringent humidity and temperature-controlled environment ensures all materials are always fresh and ready to use anytime. It is FSSC 22000, HACCP, ISO 22000 and AIBI certified. 

Kerry recently released its annual Taste Charts showcasing flavors and ingredients that are set to inspire F&B innovators across the Middle East, alongside taste trends in America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa.

By Benjamin Ferrer

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