The food industry in Iran is one of the oldest industries in the country, which has historically been mainly managed by the private sector. For this reason, it has a higher level of competitiveness compared to other predominantly state-owned industries in the country. The active industries in this field have equipped themselves with the latest technologies in the world to compete more fiercely with rivals.

The peak of the establishment of modern food industry factories, like many other industries in the country, dates back to the first half of the current century, coinciding with the wave of modernity and urbanization in Iran. During this period, traditional methods of food production were no longer sufficient to meet the needs of citizens and did not align with urban living requirements. Therefore, the expansion of modernization in Iran led investors to establish food industry factories in various parts of the country, following advanced models from Western countries and considering the high potentials of the country in agricultural product production. Although the establishment of many of Iran's food industry factories, which are still among the successful and large factories in the country today, dates back to the 1940s and 1950s, in the decades following the Islamic Revolution, due to policies aimed at independence and reducing dependence on Western countries, the import of food products into the country was widely restricted. Many food industry factories were established during this time, and previous factories were able to expand their operations and not only meet the needs of Iran's growing population but also export their products to other countries.

In this context, Mohammad Abdollahi, the chairman of the board of directors of Somieh Food Products and the CEO of Aysan Distribution Company, stated regarding Somieh food industries: This company is one of those that has been engaged in food production for a long time, and although it has a variety of products, it is primarily recognized by the public for its kashk product.

According to him, currently, this company has prepared a snack product from kashk that can serve as a suitable alternative to puffed snacks and chips for children. Alongside these topics, Somieh has made structural changes with the approach of market development and transforming from a traditional brand to a creative and innovative brand. These changes include a shift in visual identity, expanding the product range, establishing a stronger connection with today's curious consumers, and entering the snack industry with the aim of producing and offering healthy snacks and increasing the per capita consumption of kashk.

He mentioned that in previous years, Somieh has added the beverage "Matina" to its product range with the aim of developing the industry. This beverage contains natural fruit concentrate and is enriched with basil seeds, and is produced and offered in flavors of orange, mango, peach, lemon and mint, apple and cinnamon, pomegranate, and pineapple. In this year's development plans, entering the snack industry has been prioritized, and we have produced a dry kashk snack named "Kashkam." Kashkam is available in single-serving packaging with a plain flavor and in party packaging with four flavors: plain, saffron, walnut, sesame, and black seed.

He continued: Kashkam is a suitable alternative to snacks and generally unhealthy snacks. This product is suitable for children, the elderly, and even pregnant women, and considering that it contains a large amount of protein, calcium, and phosphorus, it has high nutritional value.

The chairman of the board of directors of Somieh Food Products stated: The food industry is one of the competitive industries in the world. In my opinion, the food industry in Iran is not only not inferior to the global industry but, based on precise studies conducted regarding the quality and safety of products, is even ahead of the food industry in the world.

Regarding the challenges in the food industry, he said: Problems have always existed and will continue to exist; we have learned to successfully overcome obstacles. Nothing can hinder the growth of a determined organization. As you know, in recent years, the process of delivering products to the final consumer has been increasingly influenced by the activities and development of chain stores, especially discount chain stores.

He added: Since chain and discount stores play a significant role in the distribution of food products and effective communication with the final consumer, production companies must inevitably establish optimal and targeted relationships with them. Therefore, the presence of an active syndicate is necessary and vital for formulating macro policies for interaction with these stores. A strong syndicate can prevent issues such as the long repayment periods of these stores and the high sales costs they impose, which are currently challenging production units.

Abdollahi further stated: Given the increased importance of adhering to health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, Somieh Company is more meticulously following the established protocols, including producing completely healthy products and paying attention to the health of its employees.

On the other hand, considering consumers' confidence in the health of packaged and canned products in terms of being virus-free, the sales of food items such as packaged kashk, canned goods, rose water, and lemon juice have increased during this period, while the sales of some products like beverages have decreased.

He explained regarding the export of products: With the increase in exchange rates, food exports have risen, and with government support and an increase in the penetration of our products in foreign markets, the volume of exports can increase even more.

One of our problems in exports is receiving payments from destination countries, and if this obstacle is removed, producers can significantly increase their exports. Another point worth considering is that peer companies should pay more attention to pricing in foreign markets and avoid unconventional pricing.

Reza Kalantari Daryan and Ebrahim Abdollahi, founders of Somieh Food Products Company, in an interview with Agrofoodnews

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