Almarai

Corporate brand

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A Saudi multinational food and beverage company best known for dairy, juices, bakery products and poultry.

Last updated October 28, 2026

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Overview

Almarai is a Saudi food and beverage company headquartered in Riyadh. Established in 1977 by Alastair McGuckian, Paddy McGuckian and Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer, it was created during a period when Saudi Arabia had limited infrastructure for producing, processing and distributing fresh milk. The company initially worked to improve dairy production and logistics, establishing facilities that helped connect local farming with consumers. Dairy remains the foundation of the Almarai brand, but the business has developed into a diversified food platform covering milk and other dairy products, juices, bakery goods, infant nutrition and poultry. During the 1990s, Almarai reorganized its operating model. Several decentralized processing plants were consolidated into a central processing facility, while a dispersed network of smaller farms was replaced by larger farms in Al Kharj, near Riyadh. This shift supported greater control over production, quality, processing and distribution. The company’s operating model has continued to emphasize vertically coordinated farming, manufacturing, cold-chain logistics and retail distribution, an approach suited to the Gulf’s climate and the requirements of chilled food. Almarai converted from a limited-liability company into a joint-stock company in 2005 and subsequently became listed on the Saudi Exchange. It expanded beyond its original dairy focus during the 2000s, adding broader dairy offerings and entering bakery, poultry, juice and regional agricultural businesses. Its partnership with PepsiCo led to the creation of International Dairy and Juice Limited, or IDJ, which operated and developed dairy and juice businesses in markets including Egypt and Jordan. Almarai later consolidated its position in that venture by acquiring full ownership of IDJ in 2023, according to the referenced company history. The company’s regional portfolio includes products for everyday household consumption, including fresh and long-life milk, yogurt, cheese, juices, baked foods, poultry and infant nutrition. Manufacturing and distribution are centered in Saudi Arabia, while subsidiaries, joint ventures and acquisitions have extended the company’s reach into Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Agricultural investments have also included farming operations outside the region, reflecting the resource and supply requirements of large-scale dairy and food production. Almarai’s principal production complex is in Al Kharj. The site includes dairy and juice processing, bakery operations, infant nutrition manufacturing and logistics infrastructure. The company has described the use of controlled-environment dairy production and large-scale agricultural systems to maintain output in Saudi Arabia’s hot and arid conditions. Its products are distributed through a broad retail network across the Gulf region. Almarai has also highlighted food-safety and quality-management certifications, including ISO 22000 accreditation for a Saudi dairy operation and ISO 9001 certification across operating divisions. The brand is positioned as a mass-market, dependable and regionally integrated food supplier. Its recognition is associated with product availability, chilled distribution, large-scale production and a portfolio spanning several routine food occasions. Almarai is publicly traded under ticker 2280 on the Saudi Exchange. Detailed current ownership, executive information and current financial figures are not established by the supplied reference material.

History

Almarai began operations in Saudi Arabia in 1977, founded by Irish brothers Alastair and Paddy McGuckian together with Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer. Its formation addressed a basic infrastructure gap: the Kingdom had limited capacity for consistent, high-quality milk production and distribution. The company developed facilities across Saudi Arabia and initially supported the production and movement of milk from local farms to consumers. In the 1990s, Almarai entered a period of restructuring and reinvestment. Its operating system became more centralized, with five decentralized processing plants replaced by a central processing plant. Ten smaller farms were consolidated into four larger farms in Al Kharj in central Saudi Arabia. This model improved coordination between farming, processing, quality control and distribution and became important to the company’s later scale. The company changed from a limited-liability structure to a joint-stock company in 2005 and floated shares on the Tadawul. The listing created a public-market structure while allowing the company to continue expanding its production and distribution platform. In 2006, Almarai broadened its dairy portfolio beyond milk, including promotional activity for cheddar cheese across the Middle East. Expansion accelerated in the late 2000s. Almarai reached an agreement concerning Western Bakeries and increased its exposure to bakery products. In 2009, it formed International Dairy and Juice Limited with PepsiCo. IDJ acquired Egypt’s International Company for Agro-Industrial Projects, known as Beyti, whose portfolio included UHT milk, yogurt, cheese and juices. The same period saw Almarai’s entry into poultry through the acquisition of Hail Agricultural Development Company. IDJ also acquired a majority stake in Jordanian dairy producer Teeba, strengthening the venture’s presence in Jordan and supporting PepsiCo’s beverage ambitions there. In the early 2010s, Almarai announced additional investment in Saudi dairy production and examined expansion into Pakistan. It also expanded its agricultural base through the acquisition of Fondomonte in Argentina. The Al Kharj complex became a central example of the company’s integrated model, combining dairy and juice processing with bakery, infant nutrition and logistics activities. In 2017, the company added a second Al Kharj production facility, CPP3, containing bakery, infant nutrition, central processing and warehousing functions. Almarai continued to pursue regional and international supply-chain investments. It announced plans for United States farmland acquisitions in 2016 and further production, farming, distribution and transportation investment in the Middle East in the following years. In 2021, it agreed to acquire Bakemart operations in the UAE and Bahrain. In 2023, it fully acquired IDJ, ending the joint-venture ownership structure and consolidating the associated dairy and juice activities. The company’s growth has been supported by large-scale farming, environmental control, processing automation and cold-chain distribution. Operating in an arid climate requires substantial management of temperature, water and agricultural inputs. Almarai has publicized controlled-environment systems at Al Kharj and quality-management certifications covering food safety and operating processes. Its resulting brand proposition combines regional availability with a broad portfolio of everyday food products. Almarai remains an active publicly listed Saudi company, although the supplied material does not provide a complete current management roster, current ownership table or current financial statements.

2023
Full acquisition of IDJ
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai completes the acquisition of the remaining interest in International Dairy and Juice Limited.
2021
Bakemart Gulf acquisition agreement
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai agrees to acquire Bakemart operations in the UAE and Bahrain.
2017
CPP3 facility added in Al Kharj
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai adds a second Al Kharj production facility containing bakery, infant nutrition, processing and logistics functions.
2011
Saudi production and agricultural expansion
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
The company announces increased Saudi dairy investment and acquires Fondomonte in Argentina.
2009
Creation of IDJ and entry into poultry
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai forms the IDJ joint venture with PepsiCo, expands into Egypt and Jordan through the venture, and enters poultry through Hail Agricultural Development.
2006
Portfolio diversification beyond milk
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai increases emphasis on other dairy products, including cheese, as part of its regional diversification.
2005
Conversion to a joint-stock company and public offering
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai converts from a limited-liability company into a joint-stock company and floats shares on the Saudi stock market.
1990
Operational centralization
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
During the 1990s, the company replaces several decentralized processing plants with a central processing operation and consolidates smaller farms into larger Al Kharj farms.
1977
Almarai begins operations
[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Almarai is established in Saudi Arabia to develop dairy production and distribution.

Products and positioning

A mass-market Middle Eastern food brand built around dairy leadership, product availability, quality control and integrated production and cold-chain distribution.

Dairy · 1977
Dairy products
Dairy is Almarai’s foundational and most recognizable category. It includes everyday chilled and long-life dairy products and is supported by the company’s integrated farming, processing, quality-control and cold-chain distribution system. The category is central to Almarai’s identity in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.
Beverages
Juices
Juices form a major non-dairy beverage category in Almarai’s portfolio. The company developed regional juice activities through IDJ and related operations, serving markets in the Middle East with products positioned for routine household and individual consumption.
Bakery
Bakery products
Bakery products broaden Almarai’s reach into everyday food occasions beyond chilled dairy and beverages. Bakery capability is associated with the company’s Al Kharj facilities and was reinforced through its expansion involving Western Bakeries and later Bakemart operations in the Gulf.
Poultry · 2009
Poultry products
Poultry products represent Almarai’s move into animal-protein foods. The business was added through the acquisition of Hail Agricultural Development Company in 2009, extending the company’s food portfolio beyond dairy, juice and bakery.
Specialty nutrition
Infant nutrition
Infant nutrition is produced within Almarai’s broader manufacturing platform, including the Al Kharj complex. The supplied reference identifies an infant nutrition plant but does not provide a complete product-line or launch chronology.

Marketing campaigns

2006Cheddar cheese promotion
Middle East
Almarai promoted a cheddar cheese product across Middle Eastern markets as part of its effort to increase household consumption of dairy products beyond milk.
Outcome. The campaign supported portfolio diversification; a quantified outcome is not established in the supplied material.
Source

Brand decisions

2023
Fully acquire IDJM&A
Background
Almarai sought to consolidate control of the dairy and juice platform previously operated with PepsiCo.
Action taken
Almarai acquired the remaining interest in International Dairy and Juice Limited.
Aftermath
IDJ became fully owned by Almarai, consolidating its related regional dairy and juice operations.
Source
2021
Acquire Bakemart operations in the UAE and BahrainM&A
Background
The transaction was intended to strengthen Almarai’s bakery presence in Gulf markets.
Action taken
Almarai agreed to acquire Bakemart’s UAE and Bahrain operations.
Aftermath
The deal extended Almarai’s bakery activities geographically; the supplied material does not detail subsequent integration.
Source
2009
Form International Dairy and Juice with PepsiCoM&A
Background
Almarai wanted to expand its dairy and juice activities across the Middle East and North Africa.
Action taken
Almarai and PepsiCo created International Dairy and Juice Limited and used it to develop and acquire regional dairy and juice businesses.
Aftermath
The venture acquired Beyti in Egypt and a majority stake in Teeba in Jordan before being fully acquired by Almarai in 2023.
Source
2009
Acquire Hail Agricultural DevelopmentM&A
Background
Almarai pursued diversification beyond dairy into poultry and broader food production.
Action taken
The company acquired Hail Agricultural Development Company.
Aftermath
Almarai entered the poultry market and expanded its food-sector portfolio.
Source
2005
Convert to a joint-stock company and list sharesStrategy
Background
Almarai sought a public-company structure to support its next phase of growth and capital formation.
Action taken
The company converted from a limited-liability company into a joint-stock company and floated shares on the Saudi market.
Aftermath
Almarai became a publicly traded Saudi food company. The supplied material does not provide complete offering or ownership details.
Source

Recent events

2023
Almarai completes full acquisition of International Dairy and Juice[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
M&A
Almarai completed the acquisition of the remaining interest in IDJ, bringing the joint venture’s dairy and juice operations fully under Almarai ownership.
2021
Almarai agrees to acquire Bakemart operations in the UAE and Bahrain[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
M&A
Almarai agreed to acquire Bakemart’s operations in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, extending its bakery presence in the Gulf.
2018
Almarai named Saudi Arabia’s most popular brand for a third consecutive year[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Other
A YouGov poll cited by the reference material ranked Almarai as the Kingdom’s most popular brand for the third consecutive year.
2018
Almarai announces Middle Eastern production investment plan[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Other
Almarai announced a multibillion-riyal investment plan focused on production facilities and regional operating capacity.
2017
Saudi sovereign wealth fund increases Almarai stake[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
M&A
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund announced an increased stake in Almarai, giving it a reported 16.32% holding at the time.
2016
Almarai announces United States farmland expansion[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Other
The company announced plans to acquire agricultural land in the United States, particularly in California, to support farming operations.
2011
Almarai announces Saudi investment and employment expansion[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
Other
The company announced major investment to increase domestic dairy production and create additional employment in Saudi Arabia.
2011
Almarai expands agricultural footprint through Fondomonte acquisition[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
M&A
Almarai announced the acquisition of Fondomonte, an agricultural business based in Argentina, as part of its broader farming and supply strategy.
2009
Almarai and PepsiCo establish International Dairy and Juice joint venture[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
M&A
Almarai and PepsiCo formed International Dairy and Juice Limited to develop dairy and juice businesses in the Middle East and nearby markets.
2009
Almarai expands into poultry through Hail Agricultural Development acquisition[1]Almaraien.wikipedia.org
M&A
Almarai entered the poultry sector through the acquisition of Hail Agricultural Development Company.

Sources10 sources

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