Siniora Foods plans multi-million-dollar food manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia

With an investment of 150 million Saudi Riyal ($40 million), Siniora Foods plans to construct its new food manufacturing plant in the West Asian country, as reported in the Saudi Arabian financial news portal argaam.

A new plant for new growth opportunities

Headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, Siniora Foods has a presence in multiple markets, including Jordan, Palestine, Dubai, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Taking place between 24th and 26th November, Saudi HORECA 2024 is a large-scale food, beverage and hospitality exhibition. The 2023 event saw 350 companies exhibit, representing 20,000 brands. The event’s post-show report announced around 3.1 billion Saudi Riyal ($827 million) in business deals were signed during the exhibition.

Exhibitors and brands from the food products and frozen food industry make up the biggest presence at the event, accounting for 18% of attendees, followed by kitchen, equipment and coffee machines at 13% and bakery, sweets and chocolate companies at 11%.

Siniora Foods was one of the frozen food companies showcasing its brand and products. The company has a retail and business-to-business catering presence in cold cuts, frozen, and plant-based spaces, and it operates in the canned goods retail sector.

The company’s new production plant will develop its existing cold-cuts and frozen foods business, a move designed to expand Siniora Food’s presence in Saudi Arabia and grow its business worldwide. The company will centre production on ‘Made in Saudi Arabia’ products to gain competitive market traction in the local market, as the country seeks to build its domestic product appeal with frozen food, meat, and plant-based-buying consumers.

Siniora Foods owns multiple brands, including its long-standing 100-year-old brand Siniora, luncheon meat producer Unium, delicatessen-led brand Polonez, premium cold cut meat producer Almasa and plant-based brand Badeel. Known for its plant-based product range, Siniora Food said its Badeel brand is the Middle East’s first certified vegan, gluten-free and soy-free meat alternative name.

Growing Saudi Arabia’s food scene

In 2024, Saudi Arabia’s food sector is valued at $55 billion. The bread and cereal space generates the largest revenue share, almost a fifth, with a market volume of $10.1 billion. Between 2024 and 2029, the market is expected to increase by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.99%. Currently, the country’s online food sector accounts for just 1.4% of revenue, offering growth opportunities for brands looking to expand via e-commerce channels.

Amid its push for localisation in the food sector, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) reportedly confirmed the number of food factories it operates has reached 1,300 across 36 cities. In addition, in recent years, the growth of food industry companies in Saudi Arabia has increased by more than 31%.

In September, global food and drink giant Nestlé announced it had signed an agreement with MODON to build its first manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, receiving an investment of 270 million Saudi Riyal ($72 million).

Saudi Arabia opened a tender to develop a fish farm on its northern Gulf coast as part of a $5 billion project to increase its food security. The tender comes after Saudi Arabia is reported to have undertaken 18 aquaculture projects in the first half of 2024.

Earlier in the year, in May, a unit of the country’s wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), got the go-ahead to launch Saudi Arabia’s first coffee production facility.

‘Made in Saudi Arabia’ products

The Saudi Export Development Authority (Saudi Exports) launched the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) initiative and the ‘Made in Saudi Arabia’ food programme in 2021. The programme seeks to elevate local businesses’ presence and support their growth by encouraging consumers to buy locally made products. In addition to developing Saudi Arabia's domestic market, the programme also strives to help Saudi Arabia increase its exports to priority markets.

The Made in Saudi programme sees food companies collaborate under one unified brand to deliver significant opportunities for businesses like Siniora Foods to grow and promote their brands and products in Saudi Arabia, its existing markets in Asia and the wider globe.

Under the programme, brands will display the Made in Saudi logo to help meet their vision of making the country’s products the preferred choice among consumers. The programme is underpinned by its mission to provide a unique and consistent experience for its programme members and build a trusted brand that drives demand for Saudi Arabian foods.

“The Made in Saudi program is a celebration of the technical innovation, creative talent, and business acumen that flows through our Kingdom,” Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said on the programme.

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