Mondelez boosts its baking power

Manama : Making Bahrain a distribution hub in the Gulf region, the makers of Oreo cookies and Barni soft cakes, Mondelēz International, has opened their new state-of-the-art $90 million biscuit plant in the Kingdom, yesterday, to meet growing consumer demand.  

The new plant located at Salman Industrial City, according to Executive Vice President and President, AMEA of Mondelez, Maurizio Brusadelli, is well equipped to meet the demands in the local market as well as in the Gulf, the Levant and Africa region. 

“Bahrain was selected for its business-friendly environment, skilled local workforce and excellent transport links all of which will be instrumental to the company’s growth plans,” stressed Brusadelli. 

The plant, opened by His Highness Prince Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, marks the latest addition to Mondelēz International’s global investment portfolio.

In his opening remarks, HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa acknowledged the importance of creating an attractive business environment to foster direct investment and catalyse growth, in line with the principles of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. 

HH went on to emphasise the importance of transforming the private sector into Bahrain’s main engine of growth, in line with the directives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime
Minister. 

Shaikh Isa added that the efforts of HRH the Crown Prince, particularly the simplification of the business set-up process, would increase investment into the Kingdom and enhance citizens’ living standards.

Welcoming the project, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani, highlighted the ministry’s ongoing work to enhance the Kingdom’s competitiveness. 

The 250,000 square meter manufacturing facility has a production capacity of nearly 45,000 tons per year. The new plant is located alongside Mondelēz International’s existing $75 million manufacturing site, which has been producing Kraft cheese and Tang powdered beverages since 2008.

Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, senior government officials, and senior Mondelēz employees also attended the event.

The new plant, according to a report, has already made a valuable contribution to the local economy by creating about 150 direct jobs and helps sustain over 12,000 more indirect jobs in the local economy through its two plants.