SAUDI ARABIA – Brazilian food giant BRF, in partnership with the Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced a major investment in Saudi Arabia’s Addoha Poultry Company. 

The partnership, made public in an October announcement, involves a significant capital injection of SAR 316.2 million (US$84.3 million) to support poultry production in the Kingdom.

The investment aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, a national initiative to diversify the economy and strengthen food security. 

Under the new joint venture, named BRF Arabia, the companies aim to meet the rising demand for halal-certified foods in the region. 

With over 50 years of exporting experience to 14 Middle Eastern countries, BRF views the investment as a strategic step in increasing its impact on the local market.

According to Igor Marti, BRF’s Vice President for the Halal Market, the new venture will enhance BRF’s operational standards in Saudi Arabia, combining efficiency with innovation. 

He emphasized that the goal is to provide halal consumers with high-quality products that meet both local and international standards. 

BRF CEO Miguel Gularte further remarked that this venture marks a critical point in the company’s efforts to establish itself as a major player in Saudi Arabia’s animal protein industry.

The announcement of this new partnership comes on the heels of another development: BRF’s joint venture with Marfrig Global Foods to expand its subsidiary Sadia into the global beef market. 

Beginning in January 2025, BRF and Marfrig plan to use Sadia as a platform for international beef exports, including to the Middle East’s halal market.

Founded in Concórdia, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Sadia has been a subsidiary of BRF since 2009 and is among Brazil’s leading exporters of meat products, especially known for its frozen foods and poultry. 

Marfrig’s use of Sadia for beef expansion is intended to strengthen its position in Middle Eastern markets, where Sadia has been a recognized brand for over five decades.

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