We utilize various communication channels tailored to their specific interests to facilitate this dialogue effectively.
Historically, our most well-received engagement initiative has been granting public access to our manufacturing facilities in Saudi Arabia. However, due to the pandemic, we implemented a temporary lockdown of all onsite facilities to maintain uninterrupted production operations, thereby limiting public visits to our innovative facilities, however as the situation improved, we resumed out plant visiting program in later half of 2022. Nevertheless, as our communities gradually returned to normalcy, we resumed our facility visit program since the latter part of 2022.
Apart from the above engagements, we have ESG policies and position statements in place outlining our objectives regarding various aspects including animal welfare, climate change, community investment, energy, environmental impact of packaging, ethical sourcing, environmental policy, human rights, responsible marketing, and water stewardship. This initiative aims to provide transparency to our stakeholders regarding all our initiatives. To further strengthen transparency and credibility for our stakeholders, Intertek Saudi Arabia Ltd, an independent auditing firm, conducted an audit and provided assurance on our sustainability data and report in accordance with the ISAE 3000 standard.
The chart below outlines our key stakeholders, the significance of each stakeholder group to Almarai, their requirements and expectations, methods of communication with each group, and examples of specific actions to address them:
Shareholders/ Investors Our shareholders and investors provide the capital necessary for sustainable growth; therefore, Almarai’s future growth and success ultimately depends on its ability to attract investment domestically and internationally. We are committed to delivering long term sustainable returns for shareholders and investors in a growing range of diversified product lines.
ConsumersOur consumers are at the heart of our business. We want consumers across the region to think Almarai first when purchasing food and beverages. Building trust and ensuring that our products are the best is essential to our continued growth.
EmployeesOur employees are paramount to our business success, as they hold the commitment, dedication, and intellectual capital to drive innovation within our organization and deliver on our strategy.
Governmental regulatory bodiesWe deeply value our relationships with our regulators and other government stakeholders, as they help us ensure that we effectively manage risks to our business and produce safe, quality products for consumers. We are committed to complying with all legal and regulatory requirements.
Civil society organizationsAs a people centric business, we believe that contributing to communities in the countries of our operations is important to building trust and bonds. We are committed to ensuring that access to quality and healthy food is not only a luxury, but a right.
