Laban Up shortfall 'will not last long'

08 Aug 2006

Dubai: The head of the dairy company whose factory was gutted by fire last Friday has promised that any shortages in shops of Laban Up will not last long.

Gulf & Safa Dairies Co's plant along the Airport Road in Dubai was destroyed in a blaze on Friday morning.

Chief executive Qasim Mohammad said the company was negotiating with suppliers elsewhere in the Middle East who would make up for the output capacity lost during the fire.

He said shops would "definitely" be experiencing a shortage of the company's products because of the fire.

Within 10 days company bosses hope have an agreement in place with another manufacturer to supply products and make up for the shortfall while the gutted factory was repaired.

"We're talking to a few other companies in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. We're trying our best to fill up as much as we can," Mohammad said.

The company produced about 60 per cent of its output of Laban Up, cheeses, juices and milk in the Dubai factory, the rest coming from a plant in Abu Dhabi.

As well as Laban Up, the 40 year old firm also manufactures Safa and Sterilac products.

He said it would take between one year and 15 months for the factory to be rebuilt and made operational again.