Corona Chocolate eyes on 80% growth in sales this year.

Shady Farid: The production capabilities of the new factory meet the needs of the local market, export, and manufacturing for others.

250% targeted growth in exports during 2022, the company's products reach 9 markets.

7% of the share of exports from the company's total annual sales and we are expanding locally and globally.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, and Iraq are the most important markets for the company.

We do not find it difficult to obtain various quality certificates due to the establishment of the new factory on the latest international technologies.

Introducing a list of new products last year that suit the age groups and the appropriate income level for the segments of society.

Shady Farid, CEO of the Alexandria Food Industries (Corona), said the group believes in being part of the food industries sector in Egypt. In 2018, the group decided to establish a state of art facility in 6^th of October city that accommodating production lines of the highest European quality to produce chocolate, biscuits, cocoa, wafers, jelly and spreads. The factory and production started in late 2019 on an area of ​​13,500 sqm.

Shady Farid added we are aiming to increase our sales during the current year by 80%, considering the high production capacities of the company’s factory that was built to meet the increase in market demands both locally & internationally for the next 5 years. , as well as the possibility of manufacturing for others provided that the manufactured product conforms to standard specifications.

He highlighted that company's products have been greatly developed in recent years to comply with international specifications at competitive prices, making the company a strong competitor to the international products manufactured locally or abroad. He added, the company is working on developing new products with suitable prices, such as sugar-free chocolate, to win over a specific segment of consumers, who are wishing to commit to a diet without giving up chocolate.

He also said, last year, the company introduced new types of chocolates with flavored cream inside such as, chocolate with cream filling flavored with orange, strawberry, lemon, mint and coconut, which achieved great success. Such success pushed the company to plan for introducing new innovative products this year, which will be announced soon.

Furthermore, He stressed that the company uses 100% natural butter in the manufacture of chocolate, which provides the Egyptian consumer with high quality at reasonable prices, given that the company is not currently looking at profitability as much as it focuses on expanding and reaching different segments of consumers, whether of age groups or income level.

Shady pointed out that export is one of the most important pillars on which the company is building its plan for the coming years contributing around 7% of the company’s production. the company aims to grow the export segment by up to 250% during 2022, by increasing the company's product basket and dedicating the required production capacities to achieve such growth in export sector, with the possibility of manufacturing for others as long it conforms to standard specifications.

Shady further said that the largest focus in exports during the current period is to Arab countries, due to the good reputation that Corona enjoys in several countries such as Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine.

Also, he mentioned that Corona Company is among the whitelist companies at of the Food Safety Authority, along with other certifications that enable the company to export to specific country such as Saudi Arabia that requires such certificate to admit the products to their countries.

Finally Shady expressed how delighted he was that Corona participated in Food Africa exhibition last version, which witnessed a great turnout for the company, where many visitors approached the company wishing to obtain the right to distribute the company produc