Hariss International

AFRICA H A R I S S I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Setting new standards in the food and beverage industry

H A R I S S

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

PROUDLY

Ugandan

Embodying innovative values that stem from an entrepreneurial spirit, Hariss International and its flagship Riham brand are effectively setting new standards in the food and beverage industry Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Lewis Bush

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frica has come to be renowned as a continent on the rise, and Uganda is one country that typifies this reputation.

The East African nation’s real GDP growth rose from five percent in 2017 to 5.3 percent last year. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank has forecast that this upward curve will continue, projecting a 5.5 percent and 5.7 percent improvement in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Uganda has in fact maintained a promising economic climate since the

1990s and early 2000s, paving the way for Hariss International, now an icon of national progression, to leap to the forefront of the Ugandan food and beverage industry.

“Coming from a biscuit background in Tanzania, I came to Uganda with a dream of promoting the brand name Riham that has been owned by my brother under Riham Industries since 1995,” reveals Yasser K. Ahmad, Cofounder and Chairman of the Board at Hariss International Limited – the parent company of the Riham brand.

Yasser K. Ahmad, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board at Hariss International Limited

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MASTERING THE MARKET Hariss International ensures that its Riham products are always differentiated from the competition, either through price, volume or packaging.

When it became the first to introduce the 320-millilitre PET carbonated drinks bottle in 2013, for example, it took the regional competition almost a year to follow suit.

“The main feature was it being disposable versus the returnable glass bottle,” explains Ahmad. “Since then we have introduced different volumes such as 400 millilitres, 500 millilitres, 600 millilitres, and two litres. Our water is also available in 320 millilitres, which we also were the first to introduce alongside our 600-millilitre and 1.5-litre bottles.”

The company also places substantial emphasis on its marketing practices, evidenced by its biscuit range.

“Our biscuit range covers all market segments, from school kids with small affordable packaging as low as UGX100 (2.7 cents) to everyday adult snacks, premium biscuits and airline products,” adds the Chairman.

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H A R I S S

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“The idea was to establish Riham in not only the biscuits industry but all food and drinks sectors, and so we started our expansion with the launch of water and imitation juice drinks in 2007.”

I came to Uganda with a dream of promoting the brand name Riham that has been owned by my brother... since 1995”

A story of success

12 years on and Ahmad’s dream has been more than realised.

Riham is now a well-known household brand, having captured the support of Uganda’s mass market with its broad product portfolio of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), natural mineral waters, juices, malt and energy

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drinks, and, of course, biscuits.

This is not something that happened overnight for the company, however.

Rather, it is testament to the firm’s

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ongoing determination and sound use of investments.

The Chairman explains: “Our 2007 expansion was facilitated by $1 million in funding, and we haven’t looked back since. In 2013 we again invested $10.5 million in a CSD line that included an in-house injection and closure system and water treatment facilities. The result was the launch of Riham Cola, Riham FunTime and Riham What’s Up, followed by our Rock Boom energy drink later that year.”

This growth has not wavered in the past half-decade, the company launching its Riham Funfruitti and

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Lavita non-alcoholic malt drink two years later as well as enhancing two additional production lines at a cost of $14 million.

“Our flexibility to respond to market demands and our continuous research into international flavour development keeps us in pole position,” Ahmad adds.

Revered locally, esteemed internationally

The company’s 6.5-acre facility has been crucial to this adaptable approach, allowing the firm to proactively stay ahead of the curve by setting new standards for production,

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Riham is now a wellknown household brand, having captured the support of Uganda’s mass market with its broad product portfolio’ innovation and distribution.

“Our factory is a state-of-art-plant featuring the latest technologyenabled machinery, the highest

standards of hygiene and top-quality raw materials,” states Ahmad. “It is also run under an ISO 22000 food safety management system and ISO 9001 quality management system.

“This in turn enables us to produce market-leading products at an affordable price and innovative packaging. We were the first to introduce the 320-millilitre polyethylene terephthalate (PET) CSD bottle in Uganda, for example.”

Leveraging this unrivalled asset, Hariss International has also been able to broaden its horizons in more recent times, with 15 percent of its

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ONE FOR MANY Hariss International’s CSR culture is derived from its One for Many initiative. Each year, a budget is set aside for this that is segmented into four major pillars:

EDUCATION

The company built the Shared Blessings Junior School, investing towards this project to both complete construction and provide uniforms, scholastic materials and the ability to run its first sports day.

The company also donated to children in its Lake Bunyoni project, helping them travel to and from school.

MEDICAL

Hariss has supported the Irene Gleeson foundation in Kitgum in fundraising drives since 2017, supporting two schools, two hospitals and a prison within the local community. These funds have enabled the introduction of a community library, supported research against nodding syndrome and generally helped to eradicate poverty in Kitgum.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Hariss International also supports the Musika Foundation’s Special Children’s Trust annually to create awareness for children living with disability. The company since 2015 has provided scholastic and financial materials. Further, it has developed a long-standing partnership with Dolphin’s Swim Club in Kampala, injecting funds each year to the club’s swimming competitions.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

October 2018 saw Hariss embark on a greening mission in the Luwero district, planting 1,000 fruit trees around various primary schools in the region. Equally, the company partners with Little Hands Go Green during its annual Green Festival that invites 10,000 children to attend.

In a bid to enhance recycling and waste segregation, it also distributes recycling bins in various schools across Uganda.

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goods now sold across Rwanda, Kenya and the DRC. And while the company is beginning to cross borders and bolster its international reputation, it remains focussed on its role as a major upholder of the regional economy.

“Our raw materials come from all over the world, but we always try to source from Uganda and East Africa before we go global,” Ahmad reveals.

“We have long-standing relationships with wheat millers, oil fat producers and biscuit packaging suppliers in Uganda, for example, and electricity, water and fuel are all locally sourced.”

This is not to say that the company limits itself, however, the firm equally recognising the importance of reliable, trusted business partnerships from overseas.

Ahmad continues: “Many international companies have penetrated the East African market following their successful work with us. Further, our main imported items are plastics and white sugar, and these are international commodities which are traded from the Far East to the Americas.

“India, for instance, alongside Egypt and South Africa, is a major sugar and plastics source for us.

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Fill the Ride

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“Further, in 2017 the Uganda Revenue Authority appointed Hariss International as an authorised economic operator under the World Customs Organization (WCO) framework. Its major objective is trade facilitation, promotion of supply chain security and, ultimately, enabling voluntary compliance to customs in recognition of high compliance with Customs laws and regulations and turnover.”

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for Many initiative.

CSR aside, the company currently employs more than 1,000 people across the country and has tailored its recruitment strategy to provide ambitious, young, entry-level workers with the chance to excel by favouring internal promotions.

And while the enterprise has already established itself as Uganda’s food and beverage vanguard, in the eyes of Ahmad, this is just the beginning.

He concludes, outlining some of the The preferred provider firm’s enterprising strategic plans and All things combined, Hariss goals for the future: “Today, Hariss International has become renowned International is on the verge of another as nothing other than a true champion major expansion, set to diversify into of Uganda’s ever-growing economic confectionery, snacks and cakes. We’re success. building a new Riham plant complex Owed to its esteemed position, the to accommodate this and some new firm has actively been partaking in a biscuit production lines that will lie number of corporate social investment on 27 acres of land, anticipated to be practices, helping to nurture local ready later this year with the product communities and build schools, launches themselves expected to mosques and churches through its One follow in 2020.

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“We recognise that the Ugandan market is still relatively underdeveloped, but Hariss International is taking the initiative in the aim of changing this, with more plans and projects to come.

“We’ve managed to obtain and maintain a significant market share in such a short space of time, and we’re slowly but surely fulfilling our vison of becoming the preferred provider in the food and beverages industry in Africa.”

Hariss International Tel: +256 41 456 7057 info@rihamgroup.com www.rihamgroup.com

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Hariss International Limited Plot 32 - 33, Bombo Road, Kawempe, Kampala Tel: +256 41 456 7057 info@rihamgroup.com www.rihamgroup.com

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