As the fourth largest population in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia reported a population of over 32 million in 2022. Of those, around 50% are under 25, making it one of the youngest populations in the world. What’s more, its population is continuing to rise year on year.
It is therefore integral for the nation to ensure food security for the future, which has been outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Within its vision, the Saudi government has outlined that it will:
“continue to build safe and sufficient strategic food reserves, to better guard against emergencies. Aquaculture will be promoted, as will strategic partnerships with countries blessed with natural resources such as fertile soil and water reserves. In Saudi Arabia, the use of water in agriculture will be prioritised for those areas with natural and renewable water sources. We will also continue to collaborate with consumers, food manufacturers and distributors to reduce any resource wastage,”
Aligning itself with Saudi Arabia’s national objective of achieving greater poultry self-sufficiency and food security is Tanmiah, a leading poultry producer in the region.
Tanmiah itself acts as a holding company for its business units, subsidiaries and associate companies, whose core activities consist of four principal business segments: farming, production, distribution, and quick serve restaurants.
Tanmiah’s fully integrated business model includes production, further processing, and distribution with products sold in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Kuwait.
In 2023, the business operated 114 farms as well as six hatcheries, two feed mills, four slaughterhouses, and 13 dry and cold storage facilities located in Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
Tanmiah distributes its products through a network of wholesalers, retailers, and food service outlets, as well as online directly to consumers.
Growth Through Strategic Partnerships
Established in 1962, Tanmiah considers strategic local and international partnerships as a crucial part of its growth.
Recently, it signed an exclusive development agreement between Tanmiah Restaurants for Fast Food Company, its fully-owned subsidiary, and PLK Europe GmbH to build and operate Popeyes restaurants in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Popeyes is one of the world’s largest chicken quick service restaurants with over 4,200 restaurants across the globe. The success of the fast food chain has continued to gather pace in the region, with a total of 36 stores in Saudi Arabia by the end of September 2023.
The agreement will enable Tanmiah Restaurants for Fast Food Company to pursue its expansion plans for the chain.
Additionally, Tanmiah has announced plans to enter into joint ventures with several businesses in the region, with the intention to strengthen its drive to boost food security and food self-sufficiency in line with Vision 2030.
One such venture is with MHP, the leading European producer of poultry, with Tanmiah’s wholly owned subsidiary, Desert Hills for Veterinary Services Company Ltd.
The planned joint venture’s primary focus will be developing and operating poultry breeding facilities. This will include the establishment of a greenfield hatchery in Saudi Arabia with the aim to hatch 108 million hatching eggs per year.
Supporting this, it also plans to invest in feed milling facilities with the target of producing 137 thousand tonnes of feed per annum. The initiatives will be primarily funded by the Agriculture Development Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Similarly, it has also announced plans to enter into a joint venture with Vibra Agroindustrial S.A.
The primary focus of the 50% owned joint venture will be the co-packing of both Tanmiah’s and Vibra’s products, initially in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand into the wider MENA region.
The JV will also be evaluating the possibility of establishing a primary processing or further processing facility in Saudi Arabia, supporting Tanmiah in its growth, as well as Saudi Arabia’s food security strategies.
Key Initiatives to Drive Sustainable Agriculture
The business’ diversified portfolio includes high-quality poultry products free from any artificial additives, antibiotics, or hormones, with growing conditions that expert farmers and technicians rigorously control.
Serving the halal meat sector, which is expected to grow at an estimated CAGR of 10.8% during 2023-2028, Tanmiah is committed to implementing sustainable agriculture policies.
Its key initiatives focus on six areas:
Animal Welfare
Tanmiah is committed to promoting humane treatment of animals, ensuring that its suppliers comply with our animal welfare policies, and continuously works to improve its animal welfare standards.
Environmental Stewardship
To support environmental stewardship, the business promotes environmentally sustainable practices throughout its supply chain, working to reduce its carbon footprint, minimise waste, and conserve water.
Sustainable Sourcing
Tanmiah ensures its ingredients and materials are sourced in a responsible and sustainable manner. It works closely with its suppliers to ensure sustainable agriculture methods are employed, including protecting biodiversity, promoting fair labour practices, and reducing the use of chemicals.
Food Safety
Respecting that food safety is essential to its customers’ well-being and trust, Tanmiah is committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety by implementing and continuously improving its food safety policies and practices.
Community Engagement
The business is committed to supporting local economies, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, and addressing food insecurity.
Sustainable Management of Poultry Litter
Tanmiah recognises the importance of proper management of poultry litter in sustainable agriculture practices. This includes implementing best management practices for the use of poultry litter, such as proper storage, handling, and application. Tanmiah also encourages the use of poultry litter as a soil amendment to improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers.
Within this segment, Tanmiah plans to explore innovative technologies and methods for the sustainable management of poultry litter, such as composting and pyrolysis treatment.
In November 2023, Tanmiah announced its interim financial report, in which it reported an increase in revenue in Q3 2023 of 13.2% to SAR 533.7 million.
This is accredited to the continued positive momentum across the Tanmiah’s portfolio of products and services, with the main driver being the rise in fresh poultry volumes and revenue growth in Popeyes.