Al Islami Foods has set up a production facility in an Iranian free zone and is all set to export to mainland Iran.

The facility is located across 2,141 sq m in Kish and initial capacity will be 50 tonnes per year.  The company views its entry into Iran as a stepping-stone for further expansion into Asia and Europe.
Commenting on the expansion, Saleh Abdullah Lootah, CEO, Al Islami Foods, said:  “The entry into new markets is not only critical to the growth of the company but also forms an important part of our five-year strategic plan to expand in the global market and become an international player in the processed food industry.”
Lootah estimated the size of the Iranian processed food industry at $600 million with growth at 16 per cent annually.
Al Islami Kish board member Hamid Badawi said capacity at the factory was likely to be increased to 150 tonnes very soon.
Adhering to stringent hygienic standards, the new factory has introduced nutritive sausages and mortadella to the local market and eventually will introduce additional product lines to cater to diverse palates.
Established as Co-Op Islami in 1981 to cater to the growing demand for halal food in the Arab world, Al Islami Foods was formed as a result of the relentless efforts commenced in the early 1970s when Hajj Saeed Bin Ahmad Lootah instituted the Dubai Co-operative Society. Starting with its successful frozen chicken product line, Al Islami Foods expanded its operations to include mutton and beef.
The first meat-processing plant was opened in 1991 at the Jebel Ali Free Zone. A number of products under the brand are produced outside the country on the company’s behalf.