Ornua has announced a significant product expansion into the Middle East with the launch of Kerrygold butter in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan and the expansion of its pizza cheese portfolio with world leading quick service restaurants in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
According to Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, the product range expansion coincides with Ornua’s return to Gulfood after a pause due to COVID-19.
Gulfood is the world’s largest annual food & beverage exhibition, with over 5,000 exhibitors from 120 countries.
Commenting on the news, David Butler, managing director of Ornua Ingredients International said, "It’s great to be back in Gulfood this year to meet with customers we’ve been doing business with for many years face to face again – a lot of valuable business will be done over the next four days across the region."
Unique Offering
Made from the milk of grass-fed cows, Kerrygold brings a unique offering to Middle Eastern consumers who have a growing appreciation for natural foods, a trend driven predominantly by the U.A.E where Kerrygold has been exporting quality Irish dairy products for over 30 years, the company said.
The Middle East represents an affluent and cosmopolitan market where food quality is a key concern, presenting a unique opportunity for premium Irish dairy.
Butler noted, "The Middle East is the fastest growing retail landscape globally and has experienced a rapid rise in demand for on-the-go-food solutions representing a significant opportunity for Irish dairy."
'Fastest Selling Format'
Kerrygold butter sticks come in a 100-gram format which is the fastest selling format in the butter category across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Its entry into the Middle East follows the success of butter sticks in the US market, now one of the most successful Kerrygold products on shelf, where Kerrygold is the number two butter brand.
In line with increased affluence among the Gulf population, there has been a 'rapid rise in demand for on-the-go food solutions'.
In response, Ornua said that it has launched a new pizza cheese range targeted at the €5.4 billion Middle East and North African pizza market.
Ávila, Spain Facility
Produced at its state-of-the-art cheese facility in Ávila, Spain, Ornua has developed a range of flavoured string cheese for stuffed crust pizza, 'an increasingly popular offering among top global and regional quick service restaurants worldwide'.
The product delivers consistent quality, less waste, superb stretch, and flexibility to suit a variety of pizza sizes, Ornua said.
"Our new product offerings are designed to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers across the region and will reinforce our position in the market, building a great foundation for long-term, sustainable growth," Butler concluded.
© 2022 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more A-Brands news, click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
