Kuwait Packing Materials Manufacturing Company (K-Pak), which offers one of the largest ranges of disposable take-away food containers, tableware, trays and cups in the Middle East, says exports constitute some 60 to 70 per cent of its total sales.

The company stresses it uses the best food-grade polystyrene in its manufacturing process and counts the Gulf states, Lebanon, Jordan and Algeria as its markets, supplies going there directly or through distributors. It has succeeded in gaining some high-profile customers including McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Fakieh Farms and Wataniya Poultry. "K-Pak is the certified supplier to McDonald's and is currently supplying all its restaurants in the Middle East," says marketing manager Uday Chile.

The official says success has come from a combination of quality production and prudent promotion.

"K-Pak participates in almost all major food exhibitions ... Its marketing team is dedicated to the development of new products and positive customer service. By periodically travelling to international trade exhibitions and different geographical regions, K-Pak gauges customer preferences and offers innovative products suitable for their businesses," says Chile.

"Today the food caterer's choice of packaging is as important as his choice of ingredients. Increasingly discerning customers expect to be served good quality, well-preserved food that is convenient to carry out and easy to consume.

"Our packaging method offers insulation properties unmatched by similar products and which maintain food temperature and freshness."

Chile stresses that K-Pak products do not contain gases detrimental to the end-user's health.

K-Pak, a Kuwaiti shareholding company with a paid-in equity capital of $8.2 million, began commercial production in 1986. Major shareholders are Anwar Sultan of Sultan's Center, Gazi Nafisi of Meridian and Abdulaziz Al Serri, who serves as the managing director. The factory is located in the Subhan Industrial Area, opposite Kuwait International Airport, and has a total staff of 80. Equipment for extruding and thermoforming has been imported from the US and Germany. The production of extruded polystyrene cups is done with Dutch and German machines. According to the company, quality control measures ensure that zero-defect cups are supplied to the markets.

"The in-house state-of-the-art tool room makes it easy to make new moulds in accordance with the customer's requirements," the company says.

According to K-Pak, the company has an extruding capacity of 3,500 tonnes per year.

Discussing K-Pak products, Chile says the pizza boxes have "ideal" insulation properties and are used for packing conventional pizzas as well as traditional Middle Eastern 'fatayer'. The tableware is "price-competitive, smart in appearance and not prone to softening". The hinged-lid containers have "close-fitting secure lids and offer good insulation". The trays are suitable for both fresh and frozen foods.

A landmark development was the opening of a sister operation, the Saudi Foam Trays Manufacturing Company (S-Pak) in Dammam in 2000. S-Pak has an extrusion capacity of 3,000 tonnes per year.

K-Pak is considering opening a new line for the manufacture of absorption trays for packing fresh meat and fish. As these trays reduce handling time during packaging, lower the risk of contamination and introduce price advantages, Chile is confident they will be well accepted.

K-Pak promoters have plans to open a third plant, this time in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.