Dubai: Al Nassma, a UAE-based manufacturer of chocolates containing camel milk, is taking its premium products to duty free outlets across the globe for the first time, after a tie-up with Germany-based Gebr. Heinemann, a travel retailer.
Launched in 2008, the manufacturer is present in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Far East, Europe and the US. In the region, its products are sold in specialty shops, 50 hotels, such as the Emirates Towers hotel and Burj Al Arab, and 10 airports. Globally, the company’s products were only found in specialty shops and department stores.
Under the tie-up with Gebr. Heinemann, Al Nassma expects to have its products in 10 more airports this year, Martin van Almsick, the company’s general manager, told Gulf News in a phone interview on Monday. He estimates the global duty free retail market to be valued at $50 billion, with confectionary contributing 10 per cent of that.
Al Nassma chocolates were rolled out in duty free outlets in Istanbul’s and Vienna’s airports last week, and will be present in Kuala Lampur’s duty free outlets in the short-term, van Almsick said.
He expects the company’s revenue to grow by 40 per cent during the first half of the year compared to the corresponding period a year ago. The UAE is the company’s largest market, accounting for half of its turnover.
According to van Almsick, the manufacturer is in a good financial position and, despite the expansion, is not looking to issue a bond at present.
Each Al Nassma chocolate bar costs around Dh30. The company sources the camel milk in its chocolates from the Emirates Industry for Camel Milk and Products (EICMP). Dark chocolates could have 2-3 per cent camel milk, while milk chocolates are likely to have 25 per cent camel milk, van Almsick said.
He said concerns about the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), which is found in camels, have not had an impact on the company’s sales.
