Since meat and poultry are the only frozen products purchased by the Saudi population, Freezer Centers have been established where consumers can buy lamb and chicken in bulk amounts at a low cost. The centers act as both wholesale and retail outlets. This innovative purchasing option which has been available to the Saudi public since 1992 and is especially convenient for larger families who need to buy big quantities of meat on a regular basis. According to available market data, in 1995 the purchases made at the Freezer Centers made up 42% of the total amount of sales.
Frozen food sales in Saudi Arabia have increased between the years of 1992 and 1996 by 11% in volume and 7% in value thereby marking a decline in average retail prices. Despite this growth rate however, Saudi Arabia is not one of the leading countries of frozen food consumption in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia also exports large amounts of fruits and vegetables to Dubai and Sharjah. These emirates receive produce from other countries as well such as Egypt. Dubai and Sharjah then re-export the foreign produce to countries of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC).
Another Arab country, Syria also specializes in trading and marketing its fruit and vegetable produce. The Fruit and Vegetable Company in Syria is run by the government and is eager to stay on the cutting edge of produce marketing. This Syrain also deals with Saudi Arabia and other markets in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Sweden and Spain.
- albawaba.com
