Mani & Company, a leading producer of fruit and nut snacks in the region, has announced plans to invest Dh30 million ($8.16 million) for expansion of its UAE processing and packaging factory in Dubai Investment Park (DIP).

The Dubai-based company had recently reported a UAE sales growth of more than 75 per cent during the first half of this year.

Although the UAE is said to remain Mani's biggest commercial market, the capacity expansion signals a change in business targets with nearly 65 per cent of output now reserved exclusively for GCC export, 25 per cent going to the UAE and another 10 per cent being supplied to European markets, said a top official.

Currently, about half of the facility’s current production is for the UAE market while the other half is supplied to foreign markets. 

“Low export duties, a burgeoning UAE transportation sector and inexpensive raw materials create an ideal scenario for corporate growth,” remarked Abouzar Rahmani, CEO and president of Mani & Co.

According to Rahmani, the expansion project aimed at doubling the company’s UAE production capacity up to 6000 MT per annum is expected to be completed in October.

“We want to use the fourth quarter of this year as a time to invest in export operations and we believe that diversifying our geographic portfolio at this stage will bring significant results in 2011,” he added.

Mani & Co. has a heritage of agricultural and food manufacturing experience sustained by four generations over 120 years.
The company’s Dubai office was first opened in December 2004 with production operations commencing in 2009 as the company opened up its first factory in the UAE.-TradeArabia News Service