Salalah Mills opens new bakery in Oman to boost food security
The new bakery built at Khazaen Economic City aims to boost domestic food production, strengthen strategic reserves and serve local and regional markets.
OMAN – The Food Development Company, a unit of Salalah Mills Company, inaugurated a new bakery products manufacturing plant at Khazaen Economic City in Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate.
The facility cost RO25 million (US$65M) and is described by company and government sources as one of the Sultanate’s most advanced integrated sites for fresh and frozen bakery products, built to meet international quality and food‑safety standards.
The project was launched under the patronage of Masoud bin Saeed bin Hashim al Hashimi, Governor of South Batinah, with senior representatives from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade present.
Officials framed the investment as part of Oman’s broader strategy to enhance food security, expand local manufacturing capacity, and reduce reliance on imports of staple bakery items.
The plant’s location in Khazaen Economic City was highlighted for its logistical advantages, including access to integrated utilities and transport links that facilitate distribution across the Sultanate.
The project is set on a 20,000 sqm plot with 24,000 sqm of built-up area; the facility includes 10 production lines with a combined output of up to 80 tonnes per day.
It also offers storage for 1,836 pallets, nearly 2,000 tonnes, and is intended to supply hotels, restaurants, retailers, caterers, and airlines across Oman, the GCC, and selected markets in Asia and Africa.
The plant incorporates automated production lines, cold storage, and packaging systems designed to meet international food safety standards, enabling rapid scaling of output during periods of heightened demand.
The factory holds HACCP, FSSC 22000, and Halal certifications, and its products carry the “Made in Oman” label.
According to the company, the bakery’s launch responds to lessons learned from recent global supply disruptions and rising commodity volatility, aiming to reduce reliance on imports for staple products such as bread, rolls, and packaged bakery items.
Building on Salalah Mills’ expertise, the company aims to blend traditional baking know-how with industrial-scale efficiency, strengthening its position in Oman’s and the GCC’s frozen bakery segment.
The project also highlights sustainability measures such as recyclable packaging, improved energy efficiency, and flexible supply models, including private-label production and commercial partnerships.
Additionally, the launch underscores Khazaen Economic City’s role in advancing food security and industrial growth, aligned with Oman Vision 2040’s goals to diversify the economy, reinforce supply chains, and raise the industry’s contribution to GDP.
Recently, Salalah Mills entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Salalah that sets the foundation for the development of a strategic silos project at Oman’s southern maritime gateway.
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