Arabian Sugar

OCTOBER 2015www.endeavourmagazine.com

ARABIAN SUGAR COMPANY

The Sweet Taste Of Success

INSPIRED BY YOUR SUCCESS

The first sugar refinery in Bahrain, the Arabian Sugar Company is embarking on an exciting expansion and development initiative that will see the local economy flourishing. Endeavour Magazine spoke with prominent managerial force, Dr. Yves El Mallat, to find out more.

WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS

www.littlegatepublishing.com

ARABIAN SUGAR COMPANYWWW.ASCSUGAR.COM

973 17509999


“The refinery construction project was completed in 2013, with commissioning carried out in the last quarter. Commercial Production began in the first quarter of

2014. Sugar refining and export by sea were the main focus for us, during planning and construction of the refinery and export still remains the key focus of sales for ASC. However, utilising the King Fahad Causeway is now a focused route for the delivery of sugar since commercial production started. We also explore other projects through economic feasibility studies.”

By remaining firmly focussed on the core activity of refining raw cane sugar, ASC can ensure that customers are supplied in a timely fashion, with a product that not only meets but also exceeds their expectations and demands. Always staying at the forefront of technological advancements helps with this mandate, but the buoyancy of the industry is an uncontrollable force that can have a big impact.

“The sugar industry is currently under intense pressure. World sugar prices, along with the refinery premiums have fallen. Efficiencies and cost savings are a key priority to mitigate losses caused by the drop in sugar prices. Regional competition is also gathering pace. ASC is the third major refinery in the GCC region and since our first commercial production, a fourth refinery has also started production, with further refineries in the planning stages. Whilst the sugar demand for the region currently exceeds its own


When any relatively new organisation announces expansion and development plans, one thing is for certain; they are doing well. Having been founded in 2009, the Arabian Sugar Company (ASC) has wasted absolutely no time in dominating the market and making great strides thanks to identifying a clear gap in the industry. Before ASC, there was no sugar refinery in Bahrain, meaning that the company could, essentially, write its own rulebook and dictate its own activities. Dr. Yves El Mallat, Chief Executive Officer told us more.

ZAC St Martin, Impasse St Martin, 84120 - Pertuis, FRANCETel +33 (0)4 90 08 75 00, Fax +33 (0)4 90 08 75 19

www.eurodia.com

Eurodia designs, builds, commissions, and maintains complete process lines, with a strong commitment to maximum product quality and minimal environmental impact.

ASC has selected EURODIA, specialized in the design of innovative process solutions dedicated to the sugar industry, as its partner for the supply of the decolorization workshop of Bahrain refinery. The optimized combination of separation technologies (IEX, NF and evaporation) developed by Eurodia has indeed demonstrated its cost-efficiency and industrial reliability to produce the highest sugar quality.

refining capabilities, competition still exists for the long-term contracts to major food manufacturers and customers in the area.”

Though constant demand for a product could be seen as a guarantee of future contracts, Makki Al Zainaldin, Administration and Human Resources General Manager makes it clear that ASC takes nothing for granted, including the team of dedicated workers that they have in situ. With a current workforce of 180, he emphasises that standards compliance is vital, not only for successful sugar production, but also the safety and wellbeing of all team members;

“All refinery staff members receive training for work related activities, along with food safety training and health and safety training. For example, first aiders and fire marshals have been trained to international standards and some members of staff have been selected for ISO standard internal audit training in order to help maintain the ISO certifications the company currently holds.”

As we said, nothing is taken for granted from the enviable industry position that ASC holds, through to the happiness and development of the staff that keep that company moving forward. We asked Makki how important staff development is to the


management team and what it offers the company as a whole;“This is an extremely important aspect for the company, so

detailed employee appraisals are carried out to help identify further training needs. Development of the staff in their roles and for the future means the company can identify future stars of the company and also offer avenues of opportunity for the local educated workforce along with fresh graduates, in particular engineering and chemical engineering graduates from Bahraini Institutions.”

With so many organisations keen to appear to be focused on the wellbeing, development and progression of staff it is not uncommon to hear of such initiatives, but when you consider that the new expansion plans will see the workforce increasing by an extra 100 team members, most of which will be local Bahrainis, it becomes clear that this is not just another sound byte. In fact, ASC is a rare combination of successful, mindful and supportive, making it the ideal employer and the kind of company that similarly upstanding organisations seek to work with.

Of course, customers are also a high priority for ASC and

maintaining their satisfaction is not something to be taken lightly. With this in mind, a high quality product being delivered on time is a given, which is followed up by a dedicated after sales service mandate. Only through these initiatives can customers be expected to return time and time again.

Dr. El Mallat also said the future holds a lot of promise for ASC, despite new competitors springing up regularly. In a bid to retain its grasp on the market, the company is not only invested an impressive $200 million into the construction of its new refinery, it is also seeking to diversify;

“New product development is happening with the introduction of extra fine sugar to our product range. This product will give ASC another route to market, specifically for large food manufacturers that require small grain sugar for their processes and products.

We have also been carrying out feasibility studies for the expansion of storage capacities and automation of bagging capabilities on site. This will bring about increased efficiencies in what is looking to be a difficult climate.”


Keen to not put the company in a tenuous position, Dr. El Mallat explained that the management team is adept at finding the best solutions for the lowest costs. With such a firm grasp on the finances, there can be no doubt that ASC will weather any storm that may come and do so with restraint, financial security and a deep understanding of the market.

Success really doesn’t come much sweeter than ASC’s story, but it is no fairy tale. The result of careful industry navigation, dedicated and compliant staff and an ability to focus on the now while always thinking about the future, ASC really are showing everyone how it’s done.

“Development of the staff in their roles and for the future means the company can identify future stars of the company and also offer avenues of opportunity for the local educated workforce along with fresh graduates, in particular engineering and chemical engineering graduates from Bahraini Institutions.”

www.endeavourmagazine.com

1.2 million businesses like yours are seeing this. Getting your own corporate brochure couldn’t be

easier. Get in touch below for details.

www.littlegatepublishing.com [email protected]

+44 1603 296 100

Arabian Sugar

Documents

Transcript of Arabian Sugar