Rich Bake, a leading Egyptian bakery manufacturer, aims to strengthen its global presence in 2026 by expanding into new strategic markets, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, as part of an ambitious plan to increase exports and reinforce the position of Egyptian bakery products in international markets. The expansion is supported by a strong portfolio of international certifications and a wide geographic presence across several countries worldwide.
Gilbert Hobeika, Chief Executive Officer of Rich Bake, stated in a press release that the company achieved significant growth in its exports during 2025, with expectations of continued growth in 2026 driven by further expansion into global markets.
He explained that the company currently exports to several markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon, Mauritania, Netherlands, Germany, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Cuba, and Libya. The company is also working to open new markets such as Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, and Dominica, with future plans to penetrate additional markets based on growth opportunities in each region.
Hobeika added that Rich Bake successfully penetrated non-traditional markets such as Cuba, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Mauritania. He emphasized that studying the characteristics of each market and complying with its regulatory and technical requirements is a cornerstone of the company’s export strategy, alongside product development flexibility to match consumer preferences in each country.
Regarding quality standards, Hobeika stated that the company obtained more than 9 international certifications and accreditations, including FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and SEDEX, in addition to FDA approval for 2026. The company also received international awards such as the Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation Award and the Global Brand Awards 2024, which strengthened international market confidence in its products and opened cooperation channels with major global retail chains.
He confirmed that the company ensures the highest levels of food safety through an integrated quality control system that includes specialists and engineers monitoring all production stages, along with a specialized export team that follows each country’s requirements to ensure shipment compliance before leaving the factory.
He added that one of the main challenges faced by the company was maintaining the quality of frozen Egyptian baladi bread during long-distance shipping, as it is exported at -18°C to ensure arrival in the United States and Europe in perfect quality and ready-for-sale condition. This required the development of packaging systems and supply chains to maintain product safety until it reaches the final consumer.
Hesham Hamed, Marketing Director at Rich Bake, stated that the company’s competitive advantage lies in the high quality of its products, in addition to continuous innovation in product development. He emphasized that quality at Rich Bake is not limited to the product only but also extends to service levels and support provided to partners across different markets.
He also confirmed that the company measures its export success through annual growth rates and the number of countries penetrated each year, stressing that the goal for 2026 is to strengthen global presence and increase the number of export markets to further enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian bakery industry regionally and internationally.
