United Foods charts expansion and transformation strategy as it marks 50 years in the UAE

Food & FMCG

United Foods charts expansion and transformation strategy as it marks 50 years in the UAE

United Foods Company (PJSC) (DFM: UFC), one of the UAE’s leading food manufacturing and distribution companies, has outlined an ambitious growth and transformation strategy as it celebrates 50 years of operations in the country.

The plan is being driven under the leadership of newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Mohamad Itani, who joined the company in September 2025. Since his appointment, United Foods has restructured its research and development (R&D) team to strengthen product innovation and has begun evaluating both organic and inorganic growth opportunities in the UAE and international markets.

As part of its regional expansion strategy, the company is reviewing options to extend its manufacturing footprint beyond the UAE, with potential new production facilities under consideration in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria. These facilities would complement United Foods’ existing Jebel Ali refinery and support closer-to-market distribution in high-growth regional markets.

“United Foods Company has long played a vital role in supporting the UAE’s food security, aligned with national strategies to strengthen local production and supply,” said Mohamad Itani, CEO of United Foods Company. “After 50 years, that role matters more than ever. We are building a food ecosystem that is resilient, innovative, and capable of meeting the future needs of consumers across the region.”

With five decades of serving households as well as the hospitality and food service sectors across the UAE, United Foods is adapting to shifting consumer behaviour and evolving regional demand. Its strategy focuses on upstream and downstream diversification, investment in high-performance R&D, and a renewed emphasis on developing Emirati talent to support the long-term growth of the food sector.

The company is known for flagship brands including Aseel, Nawar, Safi, SuperSun, Mumtaz and Mabrook. In recent years, United Foods has expanded beyond its traditional ghee and edible oils portfolio into new categories such as margarines, butter blends and selected frozen foods. It has also entered value-added product segments, strengthened its regional supply chain, and partnered with international brands to broaden its offering across the MENA region and other global markets.

United Foods’ ghee business remains a key pillar of its operations, with 58 per cent of production exported to Europe, the GCC, the Levant and other international markets, positioning the company as the number one premium ghee brand globally.

Sustainability continues to be a core focus. In 2024, the company recycled 29 million litres of water, representing 46 per cent of total consumption and achieving a 15 per cent year-on-year reduction in water usage. Advanced effluent treatment and reverse osmosis systems have been implemented across facilities, in line with the UAE Green Agenda 2030 and We the UAE 2031 national priorities.

United Foods’ innovation agenda is supported by its enhanced R&D capabilities, with a focus on consumer wellness, operational efficiency and performance across a wide range of food categories, from everyday staples to advanced formulations.

As part of its industry engagement, CEO Mohamad Itani will participate in Gulfood 2026, speaking on January 28 in the panel session titled “A Global View: The Future of Food Trade.” United Foods will also showcase its latest innovations in fats and oils, sustainable manufacturing, and regional distribution at Stand C2-40, Hall 2.