Mezzan Holding's Qatar revenue up 14.2 percent in the first half

08/08/2016 08:24 AST

Mezzan Holding KSC, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of food, beverage, FMCG and pharmaceutical products in the GCC, including Qatar, has reported KD52.8m revenue for the second quarter of 2016 (Q2, 16), representing a 2.4 percent increase on the same period in 2015, thus bringing its year-to-date revenue to KD108.5m, representing a 3.9 percent increase on the same period in 2015.

In Qatar, the first half revenue grew by 14.2 percent with the Water and Catering businesses both posting double digit growth.

Mezzan Holding CEO, Garry Walsh, said: "We were pleased with our overall performance given some of the macro-economic challenges across the markets we operate in as we highlighted earlier in the year. Our consumer staple portfolio demonstrated its resilience in these market conditions, while new business, distribution gains, and market share gains in some of our key businesses in Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar added to the growth momentum."

In June, the company announced that it is in talks with Saudi Arabia's Al Faisaliah Group, a leading diversified business group, for the establishment of a joint venture in Saudi's food manufacturing and distribution sector.

The joint venture will enable Mezzan Holding to manufacture, market and distribute food products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and award it exclusive rights to continue to manufacture, market and distribute Al Faisaliah Group's bakery and snacks products line, as well as the exclusive rights to import, manufacture, sell and distribute all Mezzan Holding brands. The JV company will be headquartered in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Under the terms of the JV agreement, Mezzan Holding will acquire a 70 percent stake through a capital increase in a food and beverage manufacturing and distribution entity, Al Safi Food Company, currently owned by Al Faisaliah, which will retain the remaining 30% stake. The transaction is expected to close in four weeks subject to satisfying certain precedent conditions and obtaining regulatory approvals. Mezzan Holding's investment in the JV is expected to be between KD7 million and KD7.7m.

Walsh said, "Our full year outlook on underlying performance remains the same with high single digit and low double digit revenue growth, with some leverage on the Net Profit line, which is in line with the targets we set at the beginning of the year. We expect to see a stronger second half to the year as new business comes on stream and we begin to lap the Catering declines in the second half of 2015," he said.

"We will continue to invest prudently in our brands and infrastructure to ensure we deliver quality products to our customers and consumers, while continuing to insist that we spend wisely as we seek to maximise value," he added.

The Peninsula