BMMI
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BMMI is a retail, distribution, and contract supply group headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with overseas offices in Qatar, Djibouti, Mali, Ghana, Gabon, Sudan and Washington, D.C.
The Group manages the distribution, wholesale and retail of food and beverages, and represents a portfolio of international brands. It also provides contract-based supply services for overseas government, non-government and industrial sectors.
History
In 1883 Gray Paul, a British-owned merchant company operating in the Arabian Gulf, established a local branch in Bahrain. Following a merger in 1936, the company was renamed Gray Mackenzie, and in 1955 it became part of the [Group].
In 1980, the Group formed a joint venture with Bahraini shareholders to form Bahrain Maritime & Mercantile International (BMMI). The new company was later listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange. When Inchcape divested its shareholding in 1999, BMMI became a wholly Bahraini-owned public shareholding company. In 2003, the Group widened its shareholding base to investors across the GCC.
Core business areas
| Retail and Distribution | Contract Services and Supply |
|---|---|
| Marketing | Distribution |
| Wholesale | Shipping |
| Distribution | Import-Export |
| Retail | Warehousing |
| Brand Portfolio Management | Remote Site & Facilities Management Services |
| Provision of Camps & Temporary Structures | |
| Bespoke Rations Supply | |
| Technical Sourcing & Supply | |
| Contract Logistics Services |
Retail and Distribution
Food and Household Goods
BMMI is a distributor and wholesaler of international brands of food and household goods in Bahrain and Qatar, where it operates as Nader Trading and Zad Marketing & Distribution, respectively.
The Group’s brand portfolio includes confectionery and ice cream; packaged and canned food; coffee and condiments; cereals, rice and pasta; dairy products; pet food; toiletries, fragrances, and cosmetics; tobacco; laundry and kitchen cleaning items; and household goods.
Some of the agencies and brands represented by BMMI in the Persian Gulf include Hershey’s, MARS, Kent Confectionery, Storck, Himalaya, Kellogg’s, Colgate-Palmolive, Yardley, Jergens, Alberto VO5, Henkel, Japan Tobacco, and Red Bull.
Beverages
Bahrain, often considered the most liberal of the Persian Gulf states, permits the sale of Haraam products (those prohibited by Islam) such as pork and alcohol within the country. The sale of such products is however restricted to specifically licensed outlets.
BMMI Beverages is a distributor, wholesaler and retailer for international agencies and brands of beers, spirits, wines, liqueurs and champagnes. It currently operates two retail outlets which cater to the licensed trade in Bahrain, with clients including hotels, restaurants, clubs and other licensed outlets.
Some of the brands represented by BMMI include Heineken, Budweiser, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff. In 2008, BMMI acquired ownership of MacAndrews Scotch whisky, making it the first brand owned by the Group.
In 2009, the Group’s retail business faced a drawback when the Bahraini Government decided to ban the sale of alcohol in residential areas, which resulted in the closure of one of the largest BMMI retail outlets. This was furthered by another ruling banning the sale of alcohol in 1 and 2 star hotels in a bid to curb public drunkenness.
Supermarkets
In Bahrain, BMMI currently operates three Alosra Supermarkets in Saar, Amwaj Islands, and Durrat Al Bahrain, and has plans to open more outlets in the country.[1]
Alosra is one of the few supermarkets in Bahrain approved to sell pork.
Great Deli Co.
The Great Deli Co. is a BMMI subsidiary which produces ready-to-eat meals including salads, sandwiches, wraps and sushi rolls.
Contract Services and Supply
The BMMI Contract Services and Supply stream includes the following Divisions:
Sourcing and Supply Food/Sourcing and Supply Technical
BMMI provides contract-based consumable/non-consumable procurement and supply services for overseas governments, non-government organisations, militaries and industrial concerns in the GCC, Middle East, and Africa.
Through partnerships with international manufacturers and wholesalers, BMMI has access to over one million line items of branded and non-branded products to provide sourcing and supply of temperature sensitive rations, fresh food and vegetables, as well as industrial hardware, equipment, and spare parts.
Government Contracts
BMMI is the Subsistence Prime Vendor (SPV) to the US Military in the Middle East Zone 4 (Bahrain (NSA), Qatar (Al Udeid Air Base and Camp As Sayliyah) and Saudi Arabia (Eskan Village). The 5-year contract value is in excess of US$185 million and is administered by the Defense Supply Centre Philadelphia (DSCP). In addition to the US Government Subsistence contract, BMMI supports Military needs of US, French and German militaries as well as the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Middle East region and East Africa.
Through a joint venture with Inchcape Shipping Services, BMMI also provides regional husbanding services to the United States Fifth Fleet. Additional US Navy husbandry contracts are held in West Africa, South Africa, New York, California, Alaska and South America.
Global Sourcing and Supply
Global Sourcing and Supply is the African contracting operation of BMMI. This business is aimed at successfully providing a comprehensive range of contracted services, sourcing and supply options to commercial, governmental and NGO clients in mature and developing markets. Operating in remote sites, defense and off-shore sectors, the range of services is supplied to industries such as mining, oil & gas, construction, and agriculture.[2]
Joint Ventures and Subsidiaries
BMMI Djibouti
The Group’s logistics facility in the Djibouti Free Zone comprises a 17,500 square metres warehouse which provides air-conditioned, chilled and frozen storage areas.
BMMI Djibouti is currently servicing a logistics contract for USAID, which entails the receipt, handling and storage of c. 30,000 tonnes of products per annum, and re-delivery of processed commodities owned by USAID.
In addition, it manages logistics and supply contracts for several foreign militaries as well as various navy vessels calling into the port of Djibouti.
B&B Logistics
B&B Logistics is a joint venture between BMMI and BANZ, a Bahrain-based trading, supply chain and warehousing services group. The Company specialises in the construction and operation of temperature-controlled warehousing facilities for clients across the MENA region.
Inchcape Shipping Services Bahrain
Inchcape Shipping Services Bahrain (ISS Bahrain) is a joint venture between BMMI and Inchcape Shipping Services, an international marine services provider. ISS Bahrain provides a comprehensive range of port agency, vessel husbandry, container liner, freight-forwarding, marine survey, and project support services.
ZAD Marketing and Distribution
In 2003, the Group acquired a 50 per cent stake and day-to-day management control of ZAD Marketing and Distribution, a long-established food and household goods wholesaler and distributor in Qatar.
International standards
International Accreditations include:
- ISO 9001:2000 - Quality Management Systems
- OHSAS 18001:2007 - Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
- Lloyds Register - Marine Surveys
Social responsibility
The Group’s involvement in community outreach activities places emphasis on education. Initiated in 2003, the Alosra University Scholarship scheme covers tuition fees for a four-year course at the University of Bahrain for students from low-income families. It has also set up the Alosra Charitable Foundation, the proceeds from which will go towards helping the disadvantaged in the community.[3][4][5]
References
- ^ Alosra expansion "Alosra to open in Al Hayat Shopping Centre"
- ^ African operation "Piracy puts wind in supplier’s sails"
- ^ Breast Cancer Support "Think Pink Charity Golf Day successful"
- ^ Alia Centre "New plea to help fund Alia Centre"
- ^ RIA Institute "Sultan team bag title"