Tetra Pak Saudi Arabia, part of the Swedish Tetra Laval Group, recently completed its expansion programme reinforcing its position as one of the most technologically advanced liquid food processing packaging companies in the Middle East region.

The company’s facility in Jeddah is the first Tetra Pak ‘greenfield’ packaging factory in the world to incorporate both leading-edge fibre and plastic packaging technologies located on one site. Virtually all of Tetra Pak’s orders in the Middle East region are now processed in Jeddah, and the factory registers record-breaking production figures on a monthly basis to keep up with increasing demand.

“In 2002 we delivered 4.2 billion packages - and our target for 2003 is 4.8 billion,” says Amar Zahid, managing director, Tetra Pak Saudi Arabia.  “So far we are on track whilst maintaining a 100 percent delivery record to our customers – ensuring that finished goods are delivered from the factory to our customers within 15 days from an initial order,” he said in mid-November.

But things are going to get hotter. Around 55 per cent of the company’s packages are for the local market – with 45 per cent being distributed to regional export markets that are continuing to evolve and move towards aseptic technology.

The company has an estimated total production capacity of around 5.7 billion packages per year, presenting a very healthy opportunity. The ongoing commitment in technology is vital in achieving this and the company’s investment in this area has enabled it to streamline systems and provide better resources into research and development in a never-ending quest to maintain its international advantage, The company’s marketing knowledge and experience also enables it to assist customers by advising on the most effective types of packaging and provide services covering design through to final market launch of new products or the modernisation of existing brands.

“Our customers’ success is our success, and this world-class manufacturing and converting facility enables us to supply high quality packaging to meet the demands of the kingdom’s dairy, beverage and liquid food producers now - and well into the future,” said Zahid

Expanding monthly production volumes and the constant increase in demand for Tetra Pak’s packaging and marketing expertise led to the recent addition of a dedicated on-site straw manufacturing facility – with a capacity of 2.2 billion U straws a year for selected package sizes. This latest development took the company’s overall investment to over $70 million.

The company aims to provide a first class service to the growing local liquid food industry and to increase exports from Saudi Arabia across the region.
“Today, Tetra Pak markets a number of different packaging concepts, each covering the needs of a wide range of pasteurised and aseptic dairy and non-dairy products - and exports packaging material to at least 22 countries in the Middle East and around the region,” says Zahid. “Our customers always want choice and this will continue to grow as the populations and the overall markets continue to expand.”

The company is also a leader in other aspects too – and the Tetra Pak Carton Factory in Jeddah has been officially accredited with ISO 14001, one of the world’s leading environmental standards.
Effectively setting the benchmark for the international packaging industry – and other Tetra Pak companies around the world –“this standard reinforces Tetra Pak’s global policy and commitment towards the environment,” highlights Zahid.

The ISO 14001 standard specifies requirements for establishing an environmental policy and environmental objectives, determining environmental aspects and impacts of activities, products, and services. By establishing and maintaining an environmental management system that meets the ISO 14001 standard, the company will be implementing a strong and effective environmental management programme that will affect and lead all others in the industry.