A'Saffa Foods will set up a new meat processing plant in Oman which will entail an investment of RO4mn. The new plant is in line with the company's plan of increasing production by 20 per cent in 2011.
A'Saffa board of directors approved the proposal of setting up the new plant at its board meeting held on April 18. To be built on a greenfield site on the outskirts of Muscat, near Barka, the plant will have a capacity of 300 tonnes per month initially - with room for expansion.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, A'Saffa Foods chief executive Dr Nasser al Mauly said that the company will use the plant to turn chicken and beef into its range of products, including chicken fingers, beef frankfurters, spring rolls and nuggets.
"We are talking about chicken as well as beef which will be processed into sausages, burgers and fillets, among other products. It will mainly cater to the local market, although the potential for export exists."
Set up as the largest integrated poultry project in Oman, A'Saffa Foods currently operates on a 40sq km farm area in Thumrait in southern Oman. The state of-the-art plant specialises in fresh and frozen poultry produce.
The company's processed products include chicken franks, chicken mince, chicken breaded burgers, chicken fillets, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, chicken spring rolls, chicken samosas, beef burger and beef mince, as of now.
A'Saffa Foods has been aiming to expand production in 2011 by 20 per cent to cope with the anticipated increase in both domestic and international demand for its products with sales increasing by 18.45 per cent in 2010.
As it looks to widen its range of products, A'Saffa Foods is planning to move into the frozen vegetable market as well as introduce a table egg project for 100mn eggs per year.
With the company aiming to expand production by 20 per cent, Mauly added, "The vast majority of the company's planned increased production of 20 per cent will be in chicken, with the growth coming at its facility in Thumrait."
© Muscat Daily 2011
