Zamil Food Industries has reported sales of SR2.04 million ($543,000) for the first 10 months of 2009 against sales of SR2.22 million for the whole of 2008 and SR1.71 million for 2007.

Commenting on the performance, sales and marketing manager Ranjith De Silva said: "In the last couple of years a steady growth was shown but we experienced a marginal downturn from the beginning of this year, mainly due to the global recession."

A division of Zamil Group Holding Company, Zamil Food started operations in 1978 as a joint venture company in Jubail to cater to the labour camps and serve other contracts.

The company produces minced meat, burgers, sausages, meat balls and a breaded chicken line, among other meat products. Its dairy items are soft serve and milk, ice cream and ice cubes.

Minced meat top product
According to De Silva, minced meat contributed to 60 per cent of the turnover by value, followed by burgers (20 per cent) and sausages (10 per cent).

During the first half of this year, meat production was 1,510 tonnes against 3,118 tonnes for the whole of 2008.  Production of dairy items in first-half 2009 was 329,657 litres against 578,716 litres.   
     
Zamil Food exports to Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar and provides frozen food items to its sister companies who are contracted with the Royal Commission Yanbu.

Last year the company purchased new machinery costing approximately SR2 million and plans to import more equipment next year. It imports frozen meat from Brazil, Australia and the US.