Savola Extends Relationship with OMD Arabia

Industrial group reviews, retains and extends relationship with partner agency

Jeddah, April 8, 2015 – Following a recent review, Savola Group has extended its relationship with OMD Arabia by assigning the Omnicom Media Group agency to the newly created Corporate account as well as reappointing it on its Retail account. This means OMD has been tasked with two of Savola’s three advertising accounts.

As well as the Savola Retail brands, Panda and HyperPanda, under the Panda Retail Company umbrella, OMD Arabia will now also handle Savola’s corporate brand. Panda operates and manages over 260 supermarkets and hypermarkets within and outside Saudi Arabia. In addition to retail, the Savola Group is active in the food and plastics sector, and has investments in publicly listed Saudi companies.

“Our two companies have been partnering since 2010 and the decision to retain OMD Arabia for the retail account as well as extend services to the Corporate account is a reflection of the success of and confidence in that relationship,” said Ahmad Chehade, Retail Brands Marketing Director of Panda Retail Company. “They have proved to have a superior understanding of the Saudi retail market and its unique challenges. Their sharp ideas and exceptional strategies have helped us to be ahead of the competition, both online and offline.”

“We are delighted to build on our long-standing relationship with Savola Group,” commented Hani Dajani, general manager of OMD Jeddah. “They are a dynamic company, one that is not afraid to take risks and pioneer the way forward in the industries in which it operates. As such, it is a pleasure to continue our journey together and we look forward to coming up with innovative communications solutions for the Corporate brand.”

About Savola Group:
The Savola Group was established in 1979, with the objective of manufacturing and marketing edible oil and vegetable ghee in Saudi Arabia. It is now one of the most successful and fastest growing multinational food groups in the Gulf and the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asian countries (MENACA). It has a wide portfolio of businesses and activities, including edible oils, vegetable ghee, sugar, pasta, retail (hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores) and plastics (flexible and rigid). The Group also has significant investments in leading publicly listed Saudi companies, investment funds and real-estate businesses.
www.savola.com

About OMD:
OMD, a global media network part of the Omnicom Media Group, is the largest and most innovative media marketing company in the world, with more than 10,000 employees in 100 markets serving many of the most successful and well-known global brands. The Gunn Report for Media has rated it as the Most Creative Media Agency for an unprecedented eight consecutive years. Named Media Agency of the Year by Campaign Middle East in 2011 and 2013, it has also received several global accolades, including the title of Agency Network of the Year at the M&M Global Awards 2014. OMD MENA also led the Effectiveness Index in the region, produced by WARC and Effie Worldwide in both 2011 and 2012. In 2014, the Great Place To Work Institute named it the third best employer in the UAE, along with the rest of the Omnicom Media Group MENA agencies.
www.omd.com