Arabian Trading Supplies (ATS) was re-formed from the previous Consumer Products – FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) operations of Arabian Food Supplies (AFS) –which was originally an associate of Spinney’s.
ATS is now one of Saudi Arabia’s largest marketing and distribution operation and is now split into three separate independently managed operating divisions
• Consumer Products Division (FMCG)
(including Reckitt Benckiser, Pinar, California Gardens, Holsten, Lavazza etc.)
• Mars Division
(formerly Masterfoods being Confectionery, Ice Cream, Pet foods and Rice Products)
• Cosmetics Division
(L’Oreal, Garnier, Vichy)
At the heart of all three divisions are the fully modernised large warehouses in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar, which were built to meet the highest international standards. It includes substantial chilled, frozen and dry storage facilities supported by the latest computerised management and stock control systems.
These in turn supply a network of smaller warehouses strategically located throughout the kingdom and ATS an extensive fleet of standard, air-conditioned, freezer and dual-category delivery vehicles as well as utilising the logistic services of an associate company Mosanada.
The Consumer Products Division (CPD) of ATS is one of the leading players in the Saudi FMCG msrket and it covers the whole retail sector foods & household consumables from importation and warehousing, to Sales and Marketing plus distribution. Within its brand portfolio are ranges of well-known international products such as Dettol, Pif-Paf, Finish, Vanish Pinar, Honig, Lotus, Tate & Lyle, California Gardens and Holsten etc. All of which are household names with extensive market penetration in Saudi Arabia.
CPD has extensive distribution facilities and coverage throughout Saudi Arabia from Ar’ar and Tabuk in the north to Khamis Mushayet and Jizan in the south over to Jubail and Al Khobar in the east and Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah in the west.
The Mars Division of ATS exclusively handles the sales and marketing of the Mars Company Confectionery, Drinks, and Ice Cream products throughout Saudi Arabia. Also the complete range of Pet-Foods and related products produced by the International Mars (Masterfoods) group. Plus the range of Uncle Bens Rice, Pastas and Sauces.
It operates within the constraints of the Mars international corporate strategy and has over the years consistently proven its ability to partner successfully with Mars’s world-leading brands, such as Galaxy, Twix etc.
Over the past almost three decades in the kingdom through aggressive and well planned marketing strategies Mars has been able to establish itself as the undisputed brand leader in the confectionery market and rapidly moved into other areas.
An example of its success has been the Galaxy brand which from its original introduction over twenty years ago as a chocolate bar, has now developed into a major brand name in the confectionery business with a complete diversity of product including such as Jewels, and Ripple.
ATS has enjoyed an extremely well managed business relationship with Mars and grown in tandem with them in the kingdom.
In 2000 The ATS Cosmetics Division were appointed the sole distributor in the kingdom for the L’Oreal Group the world’s leading beauty company. To further reinforce its presence in the market recently with the Mohamed Yousuf Naghi & Brother Group has created with a joint venture subsidiary, L’Oreal KSA. This new subsidiary will manage a portfolio of brands including amongst others L’Oreal Professional, Kerastase, L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, and Vichy.
The recent move will also see jobs open up to many Saudi women with a commitment to training, education and nurturing local talent within the team.
The cosmetics market in the Gulf nations has experienced a boom in the last few years, and according to market research by Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest consumption rates so in association with ATS a member of the Mohamed Yousuf Naghi & Brothers Group the market potential is expansive.