BRF’s move comes just a year after the Brazilian company opened the facility in Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Industrial Zone, part of Abu Dhabi Ports. The firm announced it was stepping up the expansion of its international operations, and bringing forward a planned increase in the UAE plant’s capacity.
“We’ve been intensifying BRF’s international expansion process for two years. Now, with the expansion of the Abu Dhabi factory, we’re set to increase annual production from 72,000 tons to 100,000 tons by the end of 2016,” said BRF’s global CEO Pedro Faria.
‘Great success story’
“The factory in Kizad is one of our great success stories. This plant is a benchmark in terms of integrating the global production chain, and a way of making the United Arab Emirates a major centre of export,” he added.
Currently the Kizad plant produces chicken, beef burgers and frankfurters. BRF said the expansion would allow it to increase the number of production lines to increase production of marinated meat products and frankfurters, and to “meet each market’s demands in a flexible and personalised way” according to Faria.
Patricio Rohner, general director for BRF Middle East and Africa, said: “Increasing our local production capacity represents an additional step towards more flexibility and an increased ability to adapt our products to the demand of the region. With a team of 17 nationalities, this plant is also a reflection of the multicultural aspect of our company in the region.”
Binghatti’s 43,000 sq m plant
Kizad also secured another food production project this month, with the announcement by Binghatti Holding of its plans to build a US$40.8m facility in the free zone. The plant will be under the name Black Forest Food Industries, a branch of a British sister company of Binghatti’s, and will cover almost 43,000 square metres.
Binghatti currently produces fruit juices under the Raubi brand – from the new facility it will manufacture products for the food and beverage industry in the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa.
“The modern infrastructure and efficient transportation network offered by Kizad and Khalifa Port will support Binghatti’s efforts in maximising their food and beverage supply chain activities. Kizad is an ideal location for a company like Binghatti that runs a multinational business and looks for further expansion into new markets,” said Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.