New method, technology likely to give an edge to fast food growth

Published on 21st Mar, Edition 12, 2016

 

Interview with Mr Hamid Hussain Qureshi — Chief Executive, Macca Food International

Profile

Mr Hamid Hussain Qureshi is the eldest son of Dr. S.A. Rahim Qureshi. Hamid did MBA (Marketing & Business Management) from International University of America, San Franciso, USA in 1997. Shortly after completing his education, he joined the family business in export division to give it an impetus and strategic direction.

Hamid is currently designated as Head of Rice Exports, Macca Food International and managing the backward integration to export operations of rice. He has been instrumental in spreading the company’s footprints in the international markets across the world. His sharp business acumen of negotiation skills, people management coupled with the vision has taken the company to the next level of growth phase. Though Hamid focused on international business expansion, he significantly contributed in developing policies & systems, brand building & new product development, project management & overall administration.

Hamid Hussain has successfully contributed in consolidating the Macca Food’s brands in countries such as Sweden, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt to name a few. Besides, he is also instrumental in acquiring and managing the key accounts of some of prestigious private label buyers from UAE, Qatar, Comoros, Malawi France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and many more.

About Macca Food International:

Macca Food International embarked upon its journey couple of decades back and since then it has been treating every milestone achieved as a stepping stone to go past another one. Today it is having head offices with milling, processing, distribution facilities networks in Myanmar, Singapore, Sweden, Canada and USA alongside exporting our premier products in over 25 countries worldwide.

Consumer’s lives have been touched by not only some of the finest fresh frozen fishes with our royal specialty of Myanmar Rahu fish & Pride of Pakistani Super Kernel Basmati Rice under the name of Macca Food’s brands, but also a wide assortment of food products that includes basmati & non basmati rice varieties, lentils, daals , spices, ready-to-cook & eat value-added fresh frozen foods varieties.

We have further expanded our product basket to Halal meat (goat & beef) for global exports. Macca Food International supported by seasoned staffs and strong quality control culture with dedicated and fully-equipped QC centre and micro-biological lab, manufacturing and processing facilities that are HACCP and ISO 9001:2008,GMP, EU certified QMS, US-FDA & FSA compliances as well as Halal certified.

Macca Food International has emerged as an enterprise with very strong and dynamic fundamentals. And there’s only one way things are looking — UP!

 

PAGE: Your views on progress of food sector in Pakistan:

HAMID HUSSAIN QURESHI: Well, my views on progress of food sector in Pakistan are good but not at par level as observed in developed countries and done in international food business arena.

Government must make policies to introduce new technology and methods to educate our concerns. We are far behind in research and development work in agricultural. In food sector, we must focus and do it on war-footing bases because it is high time for the facilitation of new technology to increase production and lower cost to be cost competitive in international markets.

 

PAGE: Could you kindly tell us about the ready-to-eat food market in Pakistan?

HAMID HUSSAIN QURESHI: Ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook food markets are still in its growth period but huge market potential exists here because large numbers of Pakistani consumers have not yet developed a habit of ready-made food products. The ready-made food sector companies are slowly but steadily growing in right direction by expanding in more markets and developing consumer awareness through various trade promotional activities.

PAGE: Could you kindly tell us about future of fast food sector in Pakistan?

HAMID HUSSAIN QURESHI: Pakistani fast food market has huge potential as our fast food consumers are expanding so as the growth will always be there in fast food businesses.

PAGE: How could more international fast food chains be attracted to do business in Pakistan?

HAMID HUSSAIN QURESHI: More incentives and more secure business policies and proper implementation of law would help international fast food chains to do business in Pakistan.