Saudi Arabia-based Mazola, a leader in quality food products across the region, has announced plans to expand into the growing non-retail segment by catering to industrial food supply chains amidst surging trends in the regional food sector and rising consumption in the wake of promising macro-dynamic developments.

Recent studies have shown that consumer spending in GCC food retail sector is expected to be worth almost $106 billion by 2017.

Saudi Arabia will continue to lead the region’s food sector, accounting for 59 per cent of the total consumption up until 2017. Saudi currently consumes 872kg of food per capita, Qatar 852kg, Kuwait 634kg and Bahrain 453kg per capita while by 2017, the per capita food consumption for the entire region is forecasted to reach 983kg.

Amidst these surging trends, Mazola showcased its plans and products at Saudi HoReCa, the biggest annual hospitality exhibition of its kind, held in Riyadh. The company showcased its expertise in the FMCG sector across the GCC and highlighted its plans to expand its product portfolio in non-retail channels.

Esam Al Dabba, HoReCa national sales manager at Basateen Foods-Saudi Arabia, which manufactures and distributes the Mazola products across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), said: “With the regional food sector witnessing phenomenal growth trends, Mazola aims to promote its HoReCa range of products, which includes edible oils, ghee, mayonnaise and specially B2B items in non-retail segment.”

According to statistics, UAE’s reliance on food imports amounts to more than 80 per cent of its food needs with expectations of a compound annual growth rate of 8 per cent on food and beverages spending in the UAE up till 2018, which reinforces the strong growth trends.