AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE & RETAIL CONSULTANTS
Food Production is a keystone of most developing economies. The happy population of a country, goes to bed at night, having eaten a fully nutritious meal that day.
The Middle East / GCC / Saudi Arabia areas are not the easiest places to grow food, where historically food was produced around small oases.
The climate is very harsh. Sheep, Goats, Camels, Cows, and Chickens, at a subsistence level were kept for the family or the Oasis small community use. Crops were vegetables and dates.
Today and over the last 40 years, the desert has turned much greener, as Governments encourage food production, a degree of self-sufficiency and a strong food import substitution ethos in the business community.
The consultancy team in Bait Al Kawader, have been closely associated with this transition and has worked closely with government in implementing of policies relating to: -
- Investment Grant Aid to Loans at keen service charges and deferred periods of repayment. These are serviced through ADF and SIDF.
- Removal of food import subsidies on Dairy, rice and meat products.
- Replaced with import duties as the economies become more balanced.
- Now we see quota implication so that the area does not become an ingrained dumping ground for surplus food.
Key Areas of Expertise and Consultancy Projects subcontracting to Larger Firms
Dairy, Beef, Sheep and Chicken Production
- Almarai Dairy - established first farm, first sales route in 1977.
- Almarai Dairy – Introduced Hand Held Terminal Technology in 1989.
- Almarai Materials handling development – crates, trays to protect product. Established tracking system for secondary/ tertiary packing assets.
- Nadec Dairy – mentored for CEO in upgrading sales distribution focus. Sales up and waste down!
- Entaj Chicken – turned around a traditional sales system to won that gained significant market share in Riyadh / Dammam /and Buraidah.
Root and Salad Vegetable Production
- The creation of Brand Nawamy for Carrots and Salad. Now holding 40% of the Saudi Carrot market.
- Holding the position of CEO Panda, we were able to develop variety selection and packaging formats growing Produce sales to 14% of TO, and the Fresh department to 40% of sales
Fresh Food Distribution
- Almarai - A key to success and is a major USP to support the sale of good quality Fresh food to the retail trade and consumer.
- Entaj – Fresh chicken sales growth into a lead market share in Riyadh.
- Nawamy – Fresh carrots.
- Almarai HHT development led the change in Van sales development in the GCC.
Chill Chain Management
- The 4deg cent target is so important in maintaining food quality, be it milk, chicken, produce, patisserie.
- Panda- The chain is so important – there should be no failing links – 100% intact chain is important.
- In ambient temperature the Produce loses 1% in weight every 24hrs – so important to get chill chain right!
Sales Data Management
- KSA van sales Data is competitive advantage. Clean data, well analysed gives the sales team an understanding of trends. Where businesses or products are growing or in decline, to enable DEMAND PLANNING to take its place.
- This analysis has been part of many of the companies we have worked with - Gulf Manufacturing in Pastry snacks, Marmum in Dairy etc.
- Panda retail where sales analysis was used to reduce waste and improved ordering and optimise stock for sales performance – right mix, right stock, in right shops,
Retail Presentation of Food
- Panda / Almarai / Othaim / Choithrams/ Nadec all entities where we worked to improve chilled sales displays and thus increase sales and decrease waste.
- Othaim / Choithrams / Al Osra – all retailers where we worked in the broader range of Brands in a category. Reduction of 8 brands to 3 or 4 brands was quite common. Simpler business, with more sales , less waste and less inventory.
- Expanding information for shelf edge labels to contain clear relevant information for the consumer.
Mr Graham Hamilton
Senior Consultant
Graham is an agronomist and marketeer in upbringing, education and experience. He qualified with Master of Agriculture Degree in 1973 in Farm Management and Business Economics.
Since 1976, Graham has been immersed in the Middle East growing Agricultural Industry, having been a founding member of the Almarai Team. Graham started in Almarai as the first Farm Manager. He then moved to Sales and Marketing Manager of Almarai until 1996.
Graham is a very practical, hands-on field operator with first hand practical experience. He is a great team leader, being able to get the best from a company's staff.
