Abu Dhabi

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‘Local Harvest’ supply chain on display at SIAL ME 2015

Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre (ADFSC) – through its retail brand Local Harvest - is using the international food industry event SIAL ME 2015 – being held December 7-9 in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE – as a platform to reassure purchasers and other industry players about the quality and safety of ADFSC’s plant and animal products.

Food safety and quality are important subjects not just in the home, but also for retailers, wholesalers and suppliers alike, says the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre (ADFSC).

The centre – through its retail brand Local Harvest – is using the international food industry event SIAL ME 2015 – being held December 7-9 in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE – as a platform to reassure purchasers and other industry players about the quality and safety of ADFSC’s plant and animal products.

“This global B2B event is a perfect opportunity for Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre to demonstrate how the agriculture sector has developed over the past five years and how the centre has improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the production chain,” said ADFSC’s communications section manager Ahmed Al Suwaidi.

The event theme ‘Trust throughout the Local Harvest Supply Chain’ promises to give visitors an insight into the modern and innovative agricultural techniques that have been adopted to promote local produce in the emirate.    

Delivery of Local Harvest produce begins with the production planning stage where customer requirements are agreed and new crops introduced. The final approved production plan is distributed to farmers in Abu Dhabi, via the ADFSC’s team, which also provides technical assistance to ensure farmers are correctly using water, fertiliser and other farm inputs.

“Local Harvest sells only the highest quality, safe produce. Our team of technical and quality specialists constantly monitor and advise on all aspects of production, farm practices, selection and packing. These quality assurance measures ensure our produce meets or exceeds the expectations of UAE consumers,” Al Suwaidi said.

Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre produce is available at retail shops in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, through most major hypermarkets and supermarkets. The centre provides technical and operational support services to farmers, helping them grow and market their produce.

ADFSC was established in 2009 to bring strategic agricultural reform to Abu Dhabi, especially by introducing and encouraging the conservation of natural resources. The organization was formed under Law No. (4) 2009, issued by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to work in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Government in order to implement reform in farming practices.

Visit www.adfsc.ae for more information on Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre.

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Barakat Quality Plus adopts shift work to better serve hospitality sector

Part of Barakat Group, BQP produces cut vegetables and fruits, ice cream and fruit juice. It has 95 varieties of juices and 200 different ice creams flavours. It is also retailing soups and salads.

The newest development at UAE-based food and beverage company Barakat Quality Plus (BQP) is that the company has introduced shift work. This move reflects the company’s focus on hotels, which account for 75% of turnover received overnight, according to BQP managing director Michael Wunsch. Among the advantages of the change is that BQP’s fleet, which was previously only in operation for 8 hours, is now better used. Also, the long queues in receival areas and dense traffic in the city during day can be avoided at night, Wunsch said.

Growth in airlines business

BQP’s turnover is directly linked to the hospitality sector and 2015 has not been a year of growth. Summer tourism in the UAE declined about 20%, mainly because Ramadan is now in summer. Also the high value of the US dollar against the euro affected tourism from Europe.

However, BQP’s business with airlines is growing every year by about 5% and it has a new business with its own vending machines, starting with 25 machines, mainly in hospitals and government offices offering juices and salads. All the investment and operations are done by BQP itself.

Part of Barakat Group, BQP produces cut vegetables and fruits, ice cream and fruit juice. It has 95 varieties of juices and 200 different ice creams flavours. It is also retailing soups and salads.

BQP going public

Another key development is that BQP is going public. Forty percent of its capital will be listed in an IPO (initial public offering.) Also, it is investing in a new logistic centre serving both its factories, one objective of which is to facilitate its night deliveries.

MM

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Jebal, the renowned quality from Morocco

This year, Jebal became the number one importer of Moroccan fresh fruit and vegetables into the GCC countries.

This year, Jebal became the number one importer of Moroccan fresh fruit and vegetables into the GCC countries.

“We have enjoyed a 70% jump in Moroccan produce this season, with a huge market awareness of it,” confirmed Driss Dehbi, co-founder and CEO of Jebal. “In the past few years Morocco was considered more as just a gap filler in the market.” But he said that now the country has become a major supplier, in particular for tomatoes and vegetables, with continuous and growing volumes over the full season. Other regions of origin are South America, North America, Europe and Australia.“Quality is more important than price, and the Middle Eastern distributors are giving more and more preference to Moroccan produce nowadays.”

Tomatoes are the main product imported in the UAE. They are appreciated for their good quality and affordable price. “We are supplying 100 to 120 tons per week of tomatoes from Morocco, imported by air.” Citrus fruit is the second top category imported, followed by mixed fruit and vegetables. Jebal supplies the different market segments of the Gulf, from wholesale markets to modern retailers (like Carrefour, Union, and Aswaq), as well as re-export channels and its own specialty stores in Abu Dhabi. 

 Hamad Al Art and Driss Dehbi

Developments in other food divisions

Jebal’s CEO confirmed the firm’s expansion in other areas of the perishable food business, as it boasts its own large cooling facilities. Jebal also distributes red meat, frozen chicken, seafood and processed fruit and vegetables, as well as other grocery items like juices and confectionery. “The food service sector in the UAE is indeed expanding, with food channels becoming more structured,” Dehbi said. He confirmed that the level of quality demanded by the market is gradually improving. Jebal is also investing in Morocco, in packing operations. “Our goal is to have direct relations with the growers and improve the efficiency of the supply chain,” he said. Jebal complies with the HACCP food security standard and is pushing hard for local authorities to establish import standards. “Currently there are no obligatory standards for fresh produce coming onto the market,” Hamad Al Art and Driss Dehbi Dehbi said. He believes produce not complying with such standards should not be allowed to enter the country.

PE

This interview first appeared on page 49 of edition 139 (Sept/Oct 2015) of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read more of that issue online by clicking on the image of it here: