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Dussmann takes the road to Mecca

10/10/2011 – Berlin service provider advises Saudi company on catering for pilgrims in the holy city of Islam
 

In Saudi Arabia, the Dussmann Group has signed a consulting contract worth millions for catering to pilgrims. In close cooperation, the Berlin service provider is preparing an ex-tensive feasibility study for Hijaz Catering Co. Ltd. in Jeddah which examines the plan-ning, construction and operation of industrial production of meals for pilgrims to Mecca.

Khalil Fatta, President of Hijaz, describes the cooperation, conceived as a long-term part-nership with the Dussmann Group, as “an important step on the path towards realizing the dream of high-quality food provision for pilgrims”.

Each year, between seven and eight million Muslims from 138 countries make the pil-grimage to Mecca and Medina, the holiest cities in Islam. For a Muslim, making the pil-grimage at least once in their life is one of Islam's pillars. The number of pilgrims grows each year by four to five percent. These statistics and the unique requirements which ap-ply to catering for followers of the Islamic faith contrast starkly with current conditions: numerous local providers and suboptimal standards of quality and hygiene.

“Together with our partner, Hijaz, we will seek innovative solutions to improve standards and maintain them in the long-run. It is our objective to be able to offer pilgrims healthy meals which are subject to consistent quality checks, which conform to Halal standards and which reflect the variety of tastes of the many pilgrims from all over the world” says Axel Gränitz, the member of the Dussmann executive board responsible for international operations.

The Dussmann Group’s international expertise in communal catering plays a key role in the consulting contract. Each year, the service provider produces 135 million meals for many different cultures in hospitals, facilities for the elderly, companies, schools, child-care facilities, sports stadiums and at events.

Representatives of Hijaz and the Dussmann Group signed the contract of strategic coop-eration for the major project at Iftar in Jeddah – the evening meal after sunset which marks the end of fasting period during the holy month of Ramadhan. Jeddah is the eco-nomic hub of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the international gate to Mecca. “We start with the development of recipes for dishes adhering strictly to Islamic rules and which ca-ter to pilgrims from very different nationalities. The planning of global purchasing process-es, the concept for the entire industrial production line based on the Cook&Freeze proce-dure and the complex logistics for distribution and service of meals will all be examined in detail in the feasibility study” enumerates Christian Lepsien, the Dussmann Managing Director for the Middle East and Asia.

The study will form the basis for the subsequent construction and operation of a produc-tion line which will produce meals for pilgrims to Mecca. Hijaz and Dussmann assume that building and construction will receive the support of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF).

The project is an important one for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There is no best practice example for the production volumes nor for the technological, logistical and cultural chal-lenges involved in this project. There are also the additional factors of the difficult geo-graphical location and daytime temperatures of 45 °C upwards making the project unique in both regional and international terms. It will set standards of quality, innovation and sus-tainability. “We are very proud to take on the responsibility for the success of this major project together with Hijaz” continues Lepsien. Green Management will play a central role.

About the Dussmann Group:

With around 56,500 people in 21 countries across the globe the Dussmann Group offers the whole range of facility services from one source under the brand name of Dussmann Service: technical services, catering, security and reception services, cleaning as well as commercial and energy management. The company divi-sion, Kursana provides nursing and care for a total of 13,600 seniors. In addition, the Dussmann Group oper-ates the KulturKaufhaus in Berlin and offers in-house company child-care facilities across Germany. In 2010, the Dussmann Group posted aggregate sales of 1,567 billion Euros and is one of the largest private multi-service providers worldwide. Further information at www.dussmann.com

About Hijaz Catering Co. Ltd.:

HIJAZ is a family business, founded in Mecca in 1913 by the Fatta family and now in the third generation. Its objective is to provide the citizens of Mecca, its visitors and the pilgrims from around the world with healthy meals that reflect the varying cultures and nationalities of diners. The company is also specialized in providing catering in Saudi Arabia for family festivities, at major ceremonies and on official state and religious occasions. Hijaz operates a number of branch offices in Saudi Arabia.

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Khalil Fatta (CEO Hijaz) and Christian Lepsien (Dussmann Managing Director, Middle East and Asia) signing the contract in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia