NRTC invests US$13.6M in Taaza processing facility
NRTC sources fresh produce from more than 50 countries and handles approximately one million tonnes annually, according to the company.
UAE – NRTC has invested AED 50 million (US$13.6 million) in a 60,000-square-foot Taaza processing facility in Jebel Ali to expand value-added fresh-food production and offer customized solutions to QSRs, hotels, retailers and foodservice operators.
The facility will bring fresh produce preparation, washing, cutting, juice processing and flexible packaging together under one roof.
Foodservice businesses can then access tailored, convenience-led solutions to achieve greater efficiency and consistency across their operations.
The consolidation addresses a practical problem for foodservice operators. Hotels and restaurant chains that prepare produce in-house carry labour costs, waste and inconsistency across outlets.
A single facility that washes, cuts, juices, and packages to specification lets buyers outsource those steps while maintaining standards across multiple locations, reducing kitchen space requirements and freeing staff for higher-value work.
Central to the strategy is NRTC’s push further up the fresh-food value chain, with a sharper focus on ready-to-use and ready-to-eat categories and a plan to significantly increase Taaza’s contribution to its QSR business over the next three years.
That shift matters because margins in fresh produce trading are thin and volatile, while prepared and portioned products command higher values and more predictable contracts.
Additionally, moving up the chain also locks in buyer relationships that are harder to displace than commodity supply arrangements.
The investment also reflects the growing importance of local processing infrastructure for strengthening supply chain capabilities, as foodservice requirements evolve and the UAE advances its wider food security ambitions.
Founded in 1973, NRTC Group (Nassar Al Rifai Trading Company) is one of the region’s leading importers, distributors and processors of fresh fruit and vegetables, with operations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
NRTC sources fresh produce from more than 50 countries and handles approximately one million tonnes annually, according to the company.
That sourcing scale is the facility’s competitive foundation. A processor with access to a global supply can maintain continuity when individual origins face weather disruptions or phytosanitary restrictions.
In addition, they can select products suited to specific applications rather than accepting whatever is available.
Moreover, the Jebel Ali location adds port proximity, reducing transit time between import and processing.
Ultimately, the facility positions NRTC and Taaza to lead the next phase of fresh produce supply in the Middle East, where demand for convenience-led foodservice solutions is rising alongside the expansion of hotels, restaurants and QSRs.
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