Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 17 2016: Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC has announced the establishment of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia Limited, a KSA registered legal entity, resulting from a joint venture between Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC and Ahmed Mohammed Abdel Wahab Naghi & Sons (Al Naghi).

Dr. Ahmed Khalil, General Manager of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia, commented on the newly formed entity: "We are delighted to announce our new venture with our longstanding strategic partners, Al Naghi. Johnson & Johnson Consumer products have been sold in Saudi Arabia for almost 30 years and this latest development is the natural progression of our operations, and we build on our longstanding history, and our familiarity, knowledge and experience in the market. This venture is a key testament to our commitment to KSA and the great growth potential we believe the Saudi market has for the Johnson & Johnson Consumer business as an important emerging growth market. We look forward to the opportunities that this will unlock for our consumers, customers and our employees."

Azmi Jabr, Assistant President of Al Naghi, expressed his support for this venture: "Having worked closely with Johnson & Johnson Middle East over the past 26 years in Saudi Arabia, we are very pleased to be strengthening this strategic relationship further by creating a legal entity. As we create a platform and a framework for cooperation, we hope to continue nurturing the relationship we have with our current customers and consumers and attracting new ones."  

Johnson & Johnson companies have been doing business within the Middle East for the last 30 years, covering 36 countries. The current portfolio of Johnson & Johnson Middle East includes iconic household brands such as JOHNSON'S® Baby, JOHNSON'S® Body Care, NEUTROGENA®, CLEAN & CLEAR®, LISTERINE®, AVEENO®, CAREFREE® and Band-Aid Brand®. JOHNSON'S® Baby is the leading baby care brand in Saudi Arabia*. 

JOHNSON'S® Baby also reaches more than 65% of mothers in Saudi Arabia with important baby care education and product samples, within 24 hours of baby's birth, making sure that Mums are supported from the outset.

Al Naghi has been the exclusive distribution partner for Johnson & Johnson Consumer in Saudi Arabia since 1990, and has unrivalled local expertise, with consumer goods distribution and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals as their primary focus. The joint venture takes the business relationship to the next level.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia is committed to training and developing Saudi national talent, to support the country's Vision 2030. It is with this mindset that the company aims to support the development of Saudi talent by creating new career opportunities for talented professionals in Saudi Arabia. It is also looking to develop strong ties with the local community and build mutual partnerships with the top local universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

®/* Registered trademark Johnson & Johnson 2016

* Johnson & Johnson calculation based in part on data reported by Nielsen through its Retail Index Service for the Baby Care Category basket, for the 52-week period ending February 29, 2016, for Saudi Arabia total grocery market (modern trade and traditional trade stores).  (Copyright © 2016, The Nielsen Company.)

Media Contact:               
Basheer El-Najjar,
Weber Shandwick
Email: Basheer.elnajjar@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2016