Abu Dhabi to house zero-waste wholesale food trading hub

Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group has partnered with UAE conglomerate Ghassan Aboud Group, to establish one of the region’s largest wholesale food trading and logistics hub in KIZAD.

The multi-category food hub will be launched in collaboration with Rungis International Market, the world’s largest wholesale fresh food market, Abu Dhabi Government Media Office reported.

Rungis hosts 1,200 companies currently, serves 18 million consumers and has a turnover of EUR10bn.

.@ADPortsGroup, in partnership with Ghassan Aboud Group and in collaboration with Rungis International Market, will establish a zero-waste wholesale food trading and logistics hub at KIZAD. pic.twitter.com/ydtv1XBPyW

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) February 10, 2022

The ‘Regional Food Hub – Abu Dhabi’ will assemble worldwide wholesale buyers, sellers, logistics players, consolidators and distributors to strengthen food diversity in the UAE and the wider region.

To ensure the site is sustainable, hygienic and a zero-waste ecosystem, the project will partner with wholesale market players. It will also facilitate trade across proteins, seafood, pulses and rice, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, dry foods and fresh flowers.

Covering a land area of 3.3 sqkm in KIZAD, the ecosystem will feature trading pavilions, logistics services, refrigerated and ambient warehouses, critical government services, waste recycling facilities and other amenities and services.

The project is designed to accelerate the government’s National Food Security Strategy and enhance food trade flow through Abu Dhabi, the statement said.

Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), chairman of logistics sector development committee in Abu Dhabi said, “Food security and safety are among the top priorities of the UAE, and this major new trade hub will drive efficiencies in food supply chains and help improve safety, affordability and sustainable access for wholesalers in the UAE.”

Stéphane Layani, chairman and CEO Rungis International Market, added: “We believe that the challenges seen during the Covid-19 crisis call for supply chain management in which wholesale markets play a strategic role. Our ambition, working with public and private partners in Abu Dhabi over the years, is to create a network of wholesale markets [that are] able to connect with each other in a very unique global network, which will provide additional tremendous strength to food supply chains and ensure critical food security.”

KIZAD offers a trade and logistics platform for food companies looking to expand regionally.