The popular boycott of American products in the Middle East has opened a window of opportunity for Iran’s Zamzam Cola. The company’s Saudi distributor reported that demand for the product was three times higher than anticipated during the product launch last week. More than four million cans of the soft drink were sold in the first seven days of sales, reported Reuters.
In light of American support for Israel, popular committees in the Middle East have been calling to widen the boycott against US-made products and services. Products on the embargo list include McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Marlboro and Heinz. The grass-roots movement has slashed US exports to Saudi Arabia by more than 40 percent in the first three months of 2002.
Riding on its Saudi success, Zamzam has plans to upgrade and expand its production facilities in Iran and is also considering setting up a factory in Bahrain or the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company currently markets its products in Bahrain, Iraq and Pakistan and several African countries. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
