BRF (formerly Brasil Foods) distributes the Sadia brand of frozen foods in the Middle East.

“The new plant, represents one of the key foundations of BRF’s strategy of commitment and investment to the Middle East region, a fast growing market that is most strategically placed for the internationalization process of BRF products," said the BRF Chairman, Abilio Diniz.

The investment provides BRF with a land plot of 162,157 square metres in Kizad and will employ 1,400 workers until 2017.

BRF said that the strategic location of Kizad will facilitate faster and more efficient access of the Sadia brand to global markets; enhancing the brand’s superior quality and innovation and assuring Sadia’s commitment to delivering quality products tailored for consumers’ needs in the region.

The plant will have a production capacity of approximately 70,000 tons of food products a year including breaded items, pizzas, burgers and others.

The new production line will amplify BRF’s effort in the continuous improvement of high quality and safe food products in the Gulf region, as well as supporting food producers in the region. BRF is part of the working groups Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) and Standardization Organization for GCC (GSO) and as such, encourages the continuous improvement of food production standards in the Middle East as well as encouraging knowledge sharing amongst all relevant stakeholders to ensure the region’s food production safety and quality guidelines are world-class.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, ADPC, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Kizad, said: “We are delighted to see BRF as the first investor to become operational in Kizad.

“The opening of the food production plant represents a crucial landmark in our continuous efforts to enable development and trade, while diversifying the emirate’s economy in line with Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030.

“The fact that BRF is opening its biggest Middle East plant in Kizad confirms the zone’s world-class business offerings, innovative logistics infrastructure and unprecedented access to global markets through our flagship deep-water Khalifa Port, the first semi-automated port in the region.

“As the local food industry promises significant growth in the years to come, the BRF plant will considerably contribute to the local production output and reduce the emirate’s dependence on imports.”

BRF International CEO, Pedro Faria, underlined the importance of innovation and the role of the Sadia product portfolio for the BRF group, he continued; “The Kizad plant is testament to BRF’s commitment to expand our business in the Middle East region.

“Local production of processed food greatly increases our offering flexibility and adaptation of our products to regional demands and expansion of our Sadia product portfolio in the food service channel for the Middle East, providing the best food products to our customers.

“We are a global company with leading brands, committed to helping people build a better future that starts with the communities around us.”

BRF General Director of Middle East and Africa, Patricio Rohner, recognized the essential role of food safety in production and how BRF is impacting local food production standards in the Middle East: “We are proud to partner with, support and work alongside ESMA to ensure that highest food safety production guidelines are practiced in the region by sharing our expertise in in the development of standards.”

Commenting on how the Kizad plant will represent a beacon for food safety production standards in the region and indeed, worldwide, Mr. Rohner added; “The factory demonstrates our capacity for innovation in production facilities that adhere to the strictest standards of quality and food safety worldwide and which rigidly follow the process of Halal to produce chicken and meat products for the region.

“We are dedicated to continuous improvement in the food production chain for each product we deliver to our consumers. In addition, Sadia plans to expand its portfolio with breakthrough innovations to offer the best qualities products to our consumers.”