UAE-based halal food producer Al Islami Foods announced its re-launch in Bahrain following a distribution agreement it signed with International Agencies Co Ltd (Intercol).
The launch and new distribution partnership is part of Al Islami’s ‘Big 5’ expansion plan across the Middle East and international markets, the company said.
Its product range includes catering chicken, processed items, frozen and fresh meat, cheese, vegetables, canned food, honey and dates.
Saleh Abdullah Lootah, CEO at Al Islami Foods, said: “The conventional interest-based economic system has faced a severe blow and drawn the attention of businesses to Islamic economic models that are based on the concept of co-operation and equality. Hence, the halal-food market, which is structured on these models.”
He described Al Islami Foods as a success story of such an approach, adding the company had attracted attention among European investors as well.
 “Al Islami is one brand that is 100 per cent halal,” said Lootah.
The company also introduced the Al Islami Cart, its ‘on-the-go fresh delights every day’ concept which offers fresh hot-dogs to the consumer in some locations in Bahrain. The company invited Bahraini businessmen to enter into franchise deals for Al Islami Cart.  
Intercol director Abdul Rahman Ali Al Wazzan said his firm considered partnership with Al Islami as very important as it shared similar values. The official commented that the UAE company had “earned the trust of millions of consumers.”
Al Islami Foods was established in 1981 as Co-Op Islami to cater to the growing demand for halal food in the Arab world. It followed the setting up of the Dubai Co-operative Society by Saeed Bin Ahmad Lootah.
Beginning with its frozen chicken products line, it diversified, setting up its first meat processing plant at the Jebel Ali Free Zone in 1991.
In 2006 the company was relaunched as Al Islami
Established in 1957, Intercol is one of Bahrain’s leading business conglomerates encompassing IT, telecom, marine and technical services, consumer products, healthcare, insurance, air and sea freight, logistics and warehousing, advertising, public relations and travel.