Scottish potato giant Albert Bartlett is entering the Middle East with a new joint venture in Abu Dhabi.
The company has teamed up with UAE-based Al Dahra National Investments to create Al Dahra Bartlett, a new company based in Abu Dhabi that will produce and distribute potatoes and potato-based products in the Middle East and Africa. It will also take charge of distributing Albert Bartlett-branded products within the region.
The new company will kick off its activities by supplying around 50,000 tonnes of potatoes to Egyptian processors this year; trading of fresh produce is set to commence in early 2015.
Albert Bartlett said the deal was the first of its kind for the potato sector in the Middle East and Africa, and would bring together Albert Bartlett’s “in-depth technical and production knowledge and proven successful track records in packing and marketing branded potato products” with Al Dahra’s land resources.
Albert Bartlett chairman Ronnie Bartlett added: “Al Dahra Bartlett brings together two like-minded businesses that share the same core values of adhering to sustainable business practices, service excellence and a passion for their products that engenders trust from customers and consumers alike.”
Meanwhile, Al Dahra vice chairman His Excellency Khadim Abdulla Saeed Al Darei said: “The joint venture with Albert Bartlett will strengthen the presence of Al Dahra’s products in the European and Asian markets, bring new opportunities and maximum use of our land banks across four continents and two hemispheres.”
Al Dahra Agriculture is an integrated agribusiness that was founded in 1995 and now has an annual turnover in excess of $1bn. Albert Bartlett is a major supplier of potatoes to the UK multiples, handling more than 500,000 tonnes of fresh produce a year. It also owns the Rooster potato brand.
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