Almarai Co. is preparing to enter the red meat business through a new plant that is nearly complete, Chairman Prince Naif bin Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer said on Sunday.
The Saudi dairy and food group is also close to opening a seafood plant, he told Al Arabiya in an interview reported by Argaam. Both plants are in Saudi Arabia. He said he expects the red meat products to reach the market soon.
The company’s new strategy aims to lift revenue to about SR36 billion over the next five years from about SR24 billion, the chairman said. It covers the core dairy, poultry, bakery and juice businesses as well as expansion into adjacent areas, through acquisitions or organic growth.
Regional disruption has sharply raised shipping costs, he said, especially for animal feed, which Almarai imports entirely. The cost of shipping a container rose to about $4,300 from about $1,500.
Almarai previously relied on Dammam port in the Eastern Province and has expanded its use of Rabigh and Jeddah ports on the Red Sea since the disruption to regional shipping, he said. He added that production and product availability had not been affected.
Almarai’s board recently approved the company’s strategy for 2026 to 2031, according to Argaam. The plan focuses on supply chain resilience, productivity, disciplined growth and higher cash generation.
