The Dairy aims to innovate and improve environmental profile launching Tetra Top in chilled milk segment for its 'cow to corner-shop' operation

Dubai, Nov 17, 2013

Milk consumption in the UAE is set to rise by eight percent a year as the population of the Emirates heads towards six million, and that could mean more discarded packaging

Al Ain Dairy - the largest dairy producer and one of the largest juice producers in the UAE - launched an innovative packaging for fresh chilled milk made of more than 60 percent renewable sources to lead the fight-back against environmental waste, while also giving consumers greater convenience and more choice.

The Dairy is now distributing fresh milk in half liter and one liter Tetra Top cartons following extensive testing in conjunction with leading global packaging and processing specialists Tetra Pak.  Although this is the first product being rolled out through the partnership, there are already plans for Al Ain and      Tetra Pak to work together in the future to provide more innovative and convenient products to consumers.

Shashi Kumar Menon, Chief Operating Officer, Al Ain Dairy, commented:  "This is the first time that   Tetra Top One Step Opening cartons have been used for fresh milk in the Middle East, although they are commonly used in Europe.   

"The four-layered carton is ideal for the region as it keeps milk fresh, offers protection from sunlight which can taint milk flavour, and is less susceptible to rapid changes in temperature.

"The new package also offers shoppers greater convenience as it has tamper evident one-step opening and closure and its shape makes it easier to store in the refrigerator, while the handy pack sizes help to reduce milk wastage, " added Menon.

With 27 percent share of the fresh milk market in the UAE, the local dairy expects to grab even greater market share with the new package as demand continues to grow.  Currently the UAE has one of the lowest rates of milk consumption in the world at just 16 liters per person each year.

In addition to the consumer benefits of a simple opening and secure closure screw top, the new package has been designed with a low environmental impact by minimizing the amount of raw materials and maximising the use of natural and renewable paperboard.  

The new package should also find favour with retailers because it is simpler, easier and cheaper to transport, store and display.  In European markets where the package is common, it has resulted in less milk wastage through lower 'returns' - product that is returned to the dairy and simply flushed away.

Al Ain Dairy products are 100 percent Emirati with the dairy located on the outskirts of the Garden City where it has a herd of 6,000 Holstein Freisian cows kept in free roaming, open, temperature controlled barns under the watchful eye of Farms Manager Pat O'Dwyer from Ireland. 

The cows consume 130 tonnes of the finest feed every day shipped directly from the United States and Spain and produce 125,000 liters of fresh milk daily. The milk is then pasteurized and packaged on-site before being transported immediately to distribution points and retailers all over the Emirates every single day of the year. 

Al Ain Dairy was established by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who donated the land where the farm stands on today.  Under the guidance of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development the dairy has become a national institution that produces the largest range of world class dairy and juice products locally with 50 percent of the profits being distributed among 12,000 marginalized UAE national families.

-Ends-

About Al Ain
Al Ain farms for Livestock Production the largest dairy producer in the UAE and has played an active and influential role in the growth of the UAE's dairy industry. The company has maintained strong market share for three decades by maintaining a tradition of excellence and by providing the highest quality dairy, juice, yoghurts and deserts that are renowned for its quality and freshness. In that process it has built a strong distribution network in the UAE aimed at consistently delivering on customer demand and market requirements.  It is constantly upgrading its state of the art plant and production not only to keep which allows them to keep pace with technological advances globally.

As a leading brand and close to its consumers Al Ain Dairy are able to quickly respond to consumer tastes and demands, are rapidly developing further new and innovative products to bring to market. Al Ain Dairy's current portfolio of products include fresh cow and camel milk, long life milks, yoghurts, and both fresh and long life juices.

Recipient of ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 certification Al Ain Dairy strives to prioritize safety, quality and innovation.  HACCP compliant (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) awarded for consistent quality and food safety standards. Category winner of the coveted Trends and Innovations award for product innovation also awarded UAE Superbrands status in 2012.  Al Ain Dairy is also the recipient of numerous Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards, as well as the prestigious Emirates Quality Mark and recipient of 3 UAE Product of the Year awards in 2012 & in 2013 as well as the BBC Good Food Middle East Best Brand for Milk. Al Ain Dairy is a participating member of the UAE Dairy Association.  Al Ain Dairy recycles 50% of its water usage for irrigation purposes and is committed to reducing its carbon footprint.

ABOUT TETRA PAK ARABIA
Tetra Pak Arabia covers the GCC region (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman), Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq) and Yemen and it has been operating in the region since the 1960s. Commercial and technical support is managed through offices located in Sana'a, Kuwait, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Beirut and Amman.

The headquarter and carton converting factory are located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tetra Pak supplies most of the carton packaging material for the Kingdom, and exports to customers in 24 other countries in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The global presence of Tetra Pak is reflected in the multinational mix of over 440 staff of over 32 nationalities employed in the region.

In cooperation with local customers and institutions, Tetra Pak Arabia supports various initiatives that include environmental and health awareness programs.

Behind the company's success is a long-term partnership with customers and strong commitment to provide world-class products and services in food processing and packaging. More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com

Tetra Pak and PROTECTS WHAT'S GOOD are trademarks belonging to the Tetra Pak Group.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Mohannad Hidmi                                                          Shmoun Maqsood
Tetra Pak Arabia Area                                                    Hill & Knowlton Strategies 
Cell: +966 50 495 2399                                                  Cell: + 971 56 174 246
Mohannad.hidmi@tetrapak.com                                     Shmoun.Maqsood@hkstrategies.com

© Press Release 2013