April 26, 2017: Gulf International (part of the Albatha Group), a leading FMCG Sales and Distribution company in the Middle East region, has been awarded the 'Best Distributor of the Year 2016’ for the MENAP (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan) region by Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, the world’s most diversified health care company. The company was also given the 'Best Execution for Beauty Brand' award, for their exemplary management and distribution of JOHNSON’S Vita-Rich, a skin care range within the company’s beauty portfolio.

Gulf International outperformed distributors coming from 27 countries that both awards reflect its excellence in meeting and exceeding brand performance expectations. Criteria used in selecting winners for these awards include net and gross sales, trade investments, promptness of orders, events, branding, executions, MSL (Must Stock List) compliance, distribution expansion, compliance with set brand standards. Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, has previously awarded the company with many distinctions, like ‘Best In-Class Execution’ and ‘Fastest New Product Initiatives in the Middle East.’ Gulf International has also been continuously awarded by other brands and suppliers for its excellent execution, planning and deliverables of the brands they represent.

Gulf International is part of the Albatha Group, one of the largest conglomerates in UAE. The group is a Shariah-compliant organization, comprising of over 25 companies with over 7,000 employees spread across seven industry sectors i.e. automotive, consumer, engineering, home products, real estate, healthcare, household and personal care. Albatha business is spread across the Middle East and North Africa region with a distribution network that expands from the Indian sub-continent to Europe. Albatha represents over 200 international corporations serving them with their business and branding needs in the most effective and professional manner.

“2016 has been an excellent year for Gulf International,” said Syed Khalid Ali, CEO – GCC countries, Gulf International. “We have been long standing regional partners of Johnson & Johnson--a relationship that dates back nearly 30 years, and we would like to further strengthen this relationship and keep committed to gaining more success for the coming years. The team at Gulf International have been trying their absolute best to achieve this award for the last three years; improvements were done year after year, turning this dream into reality. I would like to give my sincere gratitude to the entire employees of Gulf International for bringing us this golden motive in achieving the success. Moreover, I feel privileged to be honoured by Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC for recognizing the efforts and hard work of the team.”

Gulf International is credited with the highest ISO standards, with operations spread across the UAE via highly qualified and experienced management teams of sales, marketing, supply chain, logistics and other support-function professionals. The company provides successful branding, marketing and distribution for some of the world's best-loved foodstuff and consumable brands, as well as products manufactured by Albatha companies. Aside from its partnership with Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, the company has continuously strengthened its expertise in marketing, brand building and distribution of some of the world's leading multinational brands like Henkel, Lindt, Yardley, Sun-Top, Iso-Star, Del Monte and Al Areesh.