SADAFCO reports net profit of $209m for Q2 2025

Our second quarter showed steady revenue growth across our core categories and markets, says Patrick Stillhart, CEO of SADAFCO

SADAFCO launched 16 new products during the quarter and continued investing in brand-building while managing costs effectively

Updated 10 min 6 sec ago

Arab News

August 09, 2025 23:37

Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company, a leading producer of UHT milk, tomato paste, and ice cream in ��, has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, from April 1 to June 30.
SADAFCO recorded SR785.4 million ($209.3 million) in sales during Q2 2025, marking a growth of 8.75 percent compared to the same period last year. The net profit for the quarter stood at SR117.7 million, diluted by raw material cost increases and other inflationary pressures.
Commenting on the results, Patrick Stillhart, CEO of SADAFCO, said: “Our second quarter showed steady revenue growth across our core categories and markets. We maintained our strong market shares — 57.4 percent in UHT milk, 53.6 percent in tomato paste, and 30.4 percent in ice cream — and achieved strong performance in export, out of home, and e-commerce channels.”
SADAFCO launched 16 new products during the quarter and continued investing in brand-building while managing costs effectively. Despite inflation and higher input costs, the company delivered a healthy net margin of 15 percent.
The H1 2025 revenue reached SR1.56 billion, an increase of 8.6 percent year on year. The net profit for the six-month period was SR243.8 million.
SADAFCO’s financial position remains solid with shareholders’ equity of SR1.773 billion and a cash balance of SR672.4 million.
Stillhart added: “We remain focused on disciplined growth, strategic innovation, and long-term value creation. With a robust balance sheet and expanding product portfolio, SADAFCO is well-positioned to navigate market conditions and deliver sustainable results.”
Based in Jeddah, SADAFCO operates sales and distribution depots in 24 locations across the Kingdom, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait.

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Topics: SADFCO

MBSC students hone entrepreneurial skills in US

Updated 39 sec ago

Arab News

August 09, 2025 23:42

MBSC students hone entrepreneurial skills in US

Summer@Babson is a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between MBSC and Babson Global, which is a founding partner of MBSC

Updated 39 sec ago

Arab News

August 09, 2025 23:42

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College concluded the seventh edition of its acclaimed Summer@Babson program, bringing together 162 master-level students from its Executive MBA, Master in Finance, and Master in Management programs for an intensive academic and entrepreneurial experience at Babson College in Massachusetts. The program is sponsored by the Babson Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
The students arrived on Babson’s campus on July 20, and were warmly welcomed by Babson College President Dr. Stephen Spinelli Jr., Babson Global President and CEO David Abdow, and a team of faculty and staff led by Kim Stanhouse, director of the Babson Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The program is hosted on Babson’s campus, with MBSC students residing in Babson’s dormitories, fostering a dynamic and immersive learning environment.

HIGHLIGHT

The program emphasizes action planning and real-world application, guided by a diverse group of Babson faculty renowned for their expertise in entrepreneurial education.

Classes commenced on July 21 and run until July 25. During this week, students engaged in a rigorous curriculum designed to deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation. Topics included leadership, marketing in the age of artificial intelligence, strategic branding, personal branding, and the art of pitching, including Babson’s signature Rocket Pitch methodology. The program also emphasizes action planning and real-world application, guided by a diverse group of Babson faculty renowned for their expertise in entrepreneurial education.
Summer@Babson is a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between MBSC and Babson Global, which is a founding partner of MBSC. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to cultivating entrepreneurial leadership and advancing global business education.
Located in King Abdullah Economic City — a contemporary urban center on the Red Sea coast — MBSC offers an unparalleled modern educational environment for students and faculty alike. With campuses in KAEC and Riyadh, the college delivers world-class education “from �� for ��.” Through practical, hands-on experiential learning, MBSC is shaping a new generation of transformative leaders prepared to navigate complexity and contribute meaningfully to the Kingdom’s progress.
As a Saudi institution aligned with Vision 2030, MBSC continues to cultivate change-makers who are not only job seekers, but job creators — equipped with the entrepreneurial mindset and leadership capacity to drive economic diversification and national advancement.

Topics: MBSC

LuLu ‘School Savers’ campaign unveils big deals

LuLu’s back-to-school campaign is being held across all its KSA stores.

Updated 5 min 28 sec ago

Arab News

August 09, 2025 23:40

LuLu ‘School Savers’ campaign unveils big deals

The campaign also features an extensive collection of school uniforms in all sizes, maintaining quality and comfort at very affordable price points

Updated 5 min 28 sec ago

Arab News

August 09, 2025 23:40

LuLu Hypermarket’s annual back-to-school campaign is back across all its stores in the Kingdom. “School Savers” comes as a timely initiative designed to support families preparing for the new academic year, with a wide range of essential school items now available at exceptional value. These offers will be available throughout the month of August.
The “School Savers” campaign brings together everything a student needs under one roof — from colorful and durable school bags to lunch boxes, water bottles, and a complete range of stationery. Adding to the excitement, smart gadgets such as tablets and smartwatches are available at highly competitive prices, making it easier for families to invest in the tools required for modern learning.
The campaign also features an extensive collection of school uniforms in all sizes, maintaining quality and comfort at very affordable price points. Branded products are offered at special promotional rates, ensuring that parents can choose from trusted names without compromising on value.
To make shopping even more enjoyable, special kids’ activities are being hosted in all LuLu stores across �� during the campaign period — creating a vibrant and fun-filled experience for children while parents shop. In addition, customers can now take advantage of convenient financing options such as Tabby and Tamara, making it easier to manage back-to-school expenses with flexible payment plans.
“This nationwide initiative of LuLu is not only about savings, but also about making back-to-school preparations exciting, easy, and accessible to all,” a statement said.

Topics: LuLu

Amazon brings next-level tech to Esports World Cup

Updated 07 August 2025

Arab News

August 07, 2025 11:04

Amazon brings next-level tech to Esports World Cup

Updated 07 August 2025

Arab News

August 07, 2025 11:04

The Esports World Cup Foundation is collaborating with Amazon and Amazon Web Services to bring the Esports World Cup action closer than ever before to millions of fans worldwide by leveraging advanced technologies to create immersive and interactive experiences.

The collaboration combines Amazon’s retail expertise and AWS cloud technology to create a seamless connection between shopping, entertainment and competitive gaming throughout EWC tournaments, running from July 7 until Aug. 24 in Riyadh. Amazon is transforming how youth engage with their favorite esports content by providing a one-stop experience to shop, stream, and be entertained on Amazon.sa and Amazon.ae.

As the exclusive cloud partner of the Esports World Cup, AWS is powering a next-generation viewing experience through advanced cloud technology and machine learning capabilities. AWS is delivering AI-powered live match insights, including win probabilities and player heat maps, automated highlight generation tailored to fans’ favorite moments, and interactive dashboards for real-time statistics.

“Technology is central to how we grow the Esports World Cup, both in terms of scale and its impact,” said Francois Desir, senior manager, sponsorships at the Esports World Cup Foundation. “With AWS, we’re combining world-class compute and analytics services with creative storytelling and real-time engagement. It’s a partnership that bridges performance and play, creating unforgettable moments for fans, whether they’re stepping into the Amazon Arena in Riyadh or following the action at home.”

As the global e-commerce partner of EWC, Amazon is recognizing esports fans and players with “Hero’s Corner,” a first-of-its-kind online destination that brings together AI-powered immersive entertainment, exclusive shopping deals, and live tournament streams in one place in �� and the UAE. The digital experience is also amplified through on-ground activations at Riyadh Boulevard.

At the heart of this collaboration are four signature experiences that reimagine how fans engage with the tournament:

Hero’s Gate: A first-of-its-kind activation available to visitors at Riyadh Boulevard and online in the Kingdom and UAE On-site visitors will step into an immersive fantasy world, enjoying interactive experiences and photo opportunities. Each participant will receive a personalized cinematic trailer starring their personalized hero. Fans across the region can access the digital version online, creating their own avatar as they embark on a quest to Hero’s Gate.
Amazon Esports Arena: A premier gaming venue at Riyadh Boulevard where thousands of fans will witness the world’s top pros compete in live game finals. Visitors will experience the electrifying atmosphere as 2,000 elite players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries battle for glory across 25 tournaments and a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool. Each tournament promises unforgettable moments of competitive gaming at the highest level.
Amazon post-match interviews, presented by AWS: A unique interview series that brings audiences closer to the tournament’s most intense moments. Viewers can experience real-time analysis and statistics from experienced gamers, while pro players share their post-match reactions. Each segment captures the raw emotion and strategic thinking behind the matches, exclusively available through tournament broadcasts.
Exclusive deals and discounts: A dedicated shopping experience for youth and gamers in the Kingdom and UAE, which brings together the best deals in one place. Visitors will discover premium gaming gear, best-in-class electronics, snacks, fashion, and lifestyle products through the curated Hero’s Corner. The “EWC Hub” allows fans to stream the EWC tournament action live while shopping for pro gaming gear. Amazon.sacustomers can enjoy 20 percent off up to SR100 ($27) on selected products when using Mastercard credit or prepaid cards with code MC100 at checkout.
Prime Video entertainment: An exclusive content offering available on Prime Video takes viewers behind the scenes of competitive gaming. Viewers will experience the world of professional esports through “EWC Level Up,” a captivating docuseries directed by renowned filmmaker R.J. Cutler. The series reveals intimate stories of the biggest esports stars and the high-stakes world of competitive gaming, with all episodes now streaming on Prime Video.

“With over 23.5 million gamers and a gaming market valued at $2.3 billion, �� stands as one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming markets,” said Fahad Bahdailah, head of communications, Amazon ��. “We’re excited to be part of Saudi’s growing gaming ecosystem, offering our Amazon.sa community enhanced localized experiences that bring fans closer to the action than ever before, while giving youth something special to look forward to this summer.”

Abdullah Hashim secures distribution deal with Mikasa

Updated 07 August 2025

Arab News

August 07, 2025 00:31

Abdullah Hashim secures distribution deal with Mikasa

Updated 07 August 2025

Arab News

August 07, 2025 00:31

Abdullah Hashim Company Limited has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Mikasa Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer of high-performance light construction equipment. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony at AHCL’s headquarters in Jeddah, marking a significant milestone for ��’s construction industry.
The signing ceremony was attended by Atsushi Suzuki, assistant manager, Mikasa Corporation; Khalid Abushaban, CEO, AHCL Group; Azizurrab, general manager, Machinery Division, AHCL; Faisal Bin Zager, general manager of human resources, AHCL Group; and Ayman Al-Omar, chief financial officer, AHCL Group.
As Mikasa’s exclusive Saudi distributor, AHCL will deliver the brand’s renowned vibratory plate compactors, rammers, and concrete vibrators — equipment trusted for durability and innovation in global infrastructure projects. This partnership reinforces AHCL’s commitment to advancing ��’s Vision 2030 goals by equipping local contractors with cutting-edge Japanese technology.
“This collaboration aligns with our mission to provide world-class machinery solutions. Mikasa’s precision engineering complements our portfolio, enabling us to better serve ��’s booming construction sector,” said Azizurrab.
AHCL will begin nationwide distribution of the equipment in Q4 2025, backed by its established service network and trained Saudi technicians.

Saudi-powered ‘TOURISE’ announces advisory board

Updated 07 August 2025

Arab News

August 07, 2025 00:29

Saudi-powered ‘TOURISE’ announces advisory board

Updated 07 August 2025

Arab News

August 07, 2025 00:29

TOURISE, a bold new global tourism platform, has announced the members of its cross-sector advisory board, a powerhouse of industry titans guiding TOURISE’s strategic direction and shaping the agenda of the inaugural global summit taking place in Riyadh from Nov. 11-13.
The 14-member board brings together expertise from tourism, technology, aviation, entertainment, education, sustainability and media, making it one of the most intentionally cross-sector bodies in global tourism today. Together, they will champion TOURISE’s vision, ensure high-impact global issues such as equity, geographical representation and sectoral diversity are in the spotlight and influence the long-term value of the platform.
Chaired by Minister of Tourism of �� Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the advisory board will seek to elevate tourism on the global stage and shape a bold new vision for the sector’s future.
“TOURISE is driving cross-sector global collaboration, and the formation of the advisory board ensures we are uniting diverse perspectives from representatives across the global tourism ecosystem,” Al-Khateeb said
“Their visionary thinking and deep expertise will be essential in transforming TOURISE from ambition into action, ensuring the platform becomes a catalyst of innovation, investment, and sustainability in tourism for decades to come.”
The advisory board members are: Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority and vice chair, TOURISE; Julia Simpson, president and CEO, World Travel and Tourism Council; Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council; Luis Maroto, CEO, Amadeus; Blake Chandlee, former president of Global Business Solutions, TikTok; Neil Jacobs, founder of Wild Origins and former CEO of Six Senses; Stephane Lefebvre, president, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group; Jordi Carnes, president of Leitat Technological Center and CTECNO and former director general of Turismede Barcelona; Mario Enzesberger, founder and CEO, Liberty International Tourism Group; Patrick Andersen, CEO, Carlson Wagonlit Travel; Mo Gawdat, founder, One Billion Happy; Thomas Woldbye, CEO, Heathrow Airport; Fabien Fresnel, CEO, Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality; and Jean-Philippe Cossé, international events specialist.
“TOURISE is more than a summit; it’s a catalyst for global transformation in tourism.
“I joined the advisory board because I believe in the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive sustainable growth, foster innovation, and set new standards for responsible travel,” said Simpson.

Leading up to the TOURISE summit the advisory board will meet regularly to advise on the program, ensuring global views and insights shape the agenda.

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