ADQ-backed Silal to acquire majority stake in Al Bakrawe Holding

Image credit: Al Bakrawe Holding

ADQ-backed Silal has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Al Bakrawe Holding, a UAE-based importer, exporter, and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables. The deal will make the Abu Dhabi-based agritech firm one of the biggest suppliers of fresh produce in the country.

Al Bakrawe deal is Silal’s third, following the acquisition of majority stakes in SAFCO International, a UAE-based food and beverage distributor, and Sherwood, a leading distributor of agricultural products and pest management solutions in the country.

“This strategic acquisition strengthens our regional presence and enhances our ability to deliver the highest quality products to our consumers,” said Salmeen Alameri, CEO of Silal.

“By integrating Al Bakrawe’s robust supply chain capabilities and leveraging their extensive industry expertise, we have strengthened our position to address the growing demands of our market, underscoring our unwavering ambitions toward a sustainable food ecosystem, prioritising quality, reliability and innovation.”

We look forward to the opportunities this acquisition will present as we continue to set new standards in the industry.”

The company’s global sourcing network complements Silal’s extensive network of local farms, allowing the company to provide a wide range of fruit and vegetable products.

Founded in the UAE in 2002, Al Bakrawe Holding has become a major regional distributor of fruits and vegetables, handling more than 49,000 TEUs annually. Al Bakrawe supplies over 150 varieties of fresh produce to UAE retailers and wholesalers, sourcing from more than 550 suppliers in more than 50 countries.

The deal is expected to advance Al Bakrawe’s supply chain capabilities and expand its market reach while contributing to the development of a sustainable food ecosystem in the UAE.

Silal was established in September 2020 to diversify sources of food products and stimulate the UAE’s agriculture and food ecosystem.

Last October, the company introduced a blockchain-powered feature that allows consumers to trace the lifecycle of their food from farm to fork as part of a broader strategy to enhance trust and transparency.

The agritech firm also unveiled the Innovation Oasis, an innovation, research and development (R&D) centre in Al Ain to enable an ecosystem to advance the agrifood sector using cutting-edge technologies.

Through its built-in laboratories and training facilities, the 300,000 square meters R&D centre seeks to provide a hub for academic institutions, research organisations, and businesses to develop and trial technically robust solutions to boost agricultural growth and sustainably enhance production.

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