Solico Group
Solico Group is a privately held Iranian food conglomerate producing, distributing, and exporting 2,500+ products across 14+ food categories through 70+ brands and 25+ factories, serving retail consumers, HORECA businesses, and international markets in the Middle East and Central Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solico Group does
Solico Group (گروه سولیکو) is a privately held Iranian food conglomerate founded in 1977 by GholamAli Soleimani that produces, trades, distributes, and sells food across more than 14 product categories. The group operates through its flagship dairy brand Kalleh and 70+ sub-brands spanning dairy, beverages, ice cream, desserts, sauces, ready meals, coffee, health food, children's nutrition, frozen foods, snacks, dietary supplements, grains, and flour, with a portfolio of 2,500+ product lines manufactured across 25+ production facilities. The company is headquartered in Tehran with stated international operating geographies in Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Russia, and reports a workforce of 27,000+ employees alongside cumulative investment exceeding $3 billion.
The core technology is food manufacturing and processing with an integrated end-to-end supply chain spanning raw material sourcing, production, quality control, logistics, and distribution. Notable technical components include specialized probiotic production using the BB12 strain in the Lactivia brand, what the company describes as the only 12% protein skim milk and whey protein concentrate production in the Middle East under Kalleh Pro, barista-formulated milk under Ghahvehchi, and supportive R&D described as world-standard. The group's distribution reaches domestic retail, B2B wholesale, and international export channels, with the 2025 Kazakhstan cheese factory investment in Konaev (capacity of up to 100 tonnes daily) anchoring a new Central Asian production footprint.
Solico makes money through B2B wholesale supply of bulk, stable-quality food products to commercial customers at competitive pricing, B2C retail distribution through domestic store networks serving Iranian families and defined consumer segments including infants and children (Majan, Dono), athletes and fitness users (Kalleh Pro), HORECA operators, and consumers of healthy and traditional products, and international exports with documented brand-level shipments to Russia (Willie cream cheese) and presence in Iraq (Majan). The go-to-market mix combines sales-led B2B procurement, brand-led consumer marketing across 70+ brand websites plus Aparat, X, and LinkedIn, participation in industry exhibitions, and event-driven international expansion anchored by foreign government investment agreements.
Solico Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solico Group
- Legal name
- گروه صنایع غذایی سولیکو (Solico Food Industries Group)
- Website
- https://solico-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Solico Group is a privately held Iranian food conglomerate producing, distributing, and exporting 2,500+ products across 14+ food categories through 70+ brands and 25+ factories, serving retail consumers, HORECA businesses, and international markets in the Middle East and Central Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solico Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Beverages (2080), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spreads, Sweeteners & Syrups (Jam, Honey, Nut Butters, Maple) (CRADAAAC), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Concentrates, Syrups & Bases Manufacturing (AFAFABAM), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Soft Drinks, Water, Juice, RTD Coffee/Tea) (AFAIAGAB), Specialty & Gourmet Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAI)
Keywords
Where Solico Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dubai
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices2 records
Markets served
Solico Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dairy Products: Sale of dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, and buttermilk through Kalleh and other dairy brands
- Beverages: Sale of beverages including juices, energy drinks, malt drinks, carbonated drinks, and functional waters through brands like NRJ, Shams, Dokola, Lucky Do, Lucky You, Argo, Majidiyeh, Kasel
- Ice Cream: Production and sale of ice cream products including cups, bars, cones, and family packs through brands like Fordo, Rendo, Jeeto, Brimond
- Desserts and Sauces: Sale of desserts, spreads, jams, chocolate and confectionery through brands like Katela, Delis, Sorbon
- Ready and Semi-Ready Foods: Production and sale of prepared and semi-prepared foods including pizza, frozen foods through brands like Capo, Filet, Pemina, Solico Kalleh
- B2B Wholesale Supply: Bulk supply of food products to businesses requiring stable supply, competitive pricing and consistent quality through integrated production infrastructure
- International Export: Export of products to international markets with Kalleh recognized as one of the most well-known Iranian food brands internationally
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | B2B wholesale supply for businesses requiring bulk orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Solico Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solico Group is a privately held Iranian food conglomerate that manufactures, processes, trades, distributes, and sells a diversified portfolio of food and beverage products through 70+ brands. Its core offerings span dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, labneh, kefir), beverages (juices, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, malt drinks, non-alcoholic craft beer, sparkling water), ice cream and frozen treats, desserts, spreads, sauces, ready and semi-ready foods, baby and child nutrition, sports nutrition, coffee, and confectionery, sold via B2B wholesale, domestic retail, and international export channels.
Product overview
Solico Group is a major Iranian food conglomerate operating under the tagline 'Daring to Build a Better Life' with over $3 billion in investment volume, 27,000+ employees, 2,500+ product lines, 25+ factories, and 70+ brands. The company offers a diversified portfolio of food and beverage products spanning dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream), beverages (juices, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, malt drinks, craft beer), ice cream, desserts, sauces, ready foods, coffee, health foods, baby food, frozen foods, snacks, and food supplements. The portfolio is organized around the flagship Kalleh brand for dairy products, with specialized sub-brands targeting specific segments such as sports nutrition (Kalleh Pro), children's nutrition (Majan, Dono), probiotic health (Lactivia, Nari), premium ice cream (Brimond, Fordo), and innovative beverages (NRJ, Docola, Luckydo). The company has announced international expansion including a cheese factory project in Kazakhstan capable of producing 100 tonnes daily.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- کاله (Kalleh): Flagship dairy brand of Solico Group, one of the most recognized food brands in Iran, offering milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, ice cream, desserts, sauces, and beverages. Started in Amol.
- کاله پرو (Kalleh Pro)
- ماجان (Majan)
- دونو (Dono)
- دلیس (Delis)
- کاتلا (Katela)
- فوردو (Fordo)
- آرگو (Argo)
- ان آر جی (NRJ)
- دوکولا (Docola)
- لاکی دو (Luckydo)
- لاکی فروت (Lucky Fruit)
- لاکی یو (Lucky U)
- مجیدیه (Majidiyeh)
- بریموند (Brimond)
- جیتو (Jeeto)
- رندو (Rendo)
- آژیل (Ajil)
- قهوه چی (Ghahvehchi)
- لاکتیویا (Lactivia)
- کا ریکو (K-Rico)
- تهشیر (Tahshir)
- زیرو (Ziro)
- آنا (Anna)
- لیو (Lio)
- تی فتا (T Feta)
- ناری (Nari)
- دلخامه (Delkhame)
- ویلی (Willie)
- شمس (Shams)
- کاسل (Castle)
Products and services
- Kalleh (کاله) Dairy Products
Quantifiable outcome
- 3+ billion USD investment volume
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Solico Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solico Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Solico Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ministry of Agriculture of KazakhstancoreSolico Group signed an investment agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan to construct one of the largest milk processing and cheese production complexes in the country. The project in Konaev will have capacity to produce up to 100 tonnes of cheese daily, supporting the export of 'Made in Kazakhstan' products to Central Asian markets. This represents a significant step in Solico's international expansion and strengthening of economic cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Solico Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Danone: Global dairy and plant-based food multinational with strong probiotic and health-focused brands. Comparable to Solico's Kalleh dairy operations, Lactivia probiotic positioning, and Ajil plant-based brand.
- Nestlé: World's largest food and beverage company with a portfolio across dairy, beverages, infant nutrition, and ready meals. Comparable as a broad incumbent across nutritional foods, dairy, ready meals, and beverages.
- PepsiCo: Global food and beverage giant with a portfolio spanning beverages (Pepsi, energy drinks) and snacks (Frito-Lay). Relevant as a broad incumbent competing directly with Solico's NRJ energy drink and Docola carbonated soft drink launches.
- Arla Foods: Global dairy cooperative with a focus on health and nutrition, including probiotic and functional dairy products. Strongly comparable to Solico's Kalleh dairy operations and Lactivia probiotic brand strategy.
Direct peers
- Americana Group: Kuwait-headquartered food company operating in 20+ countries across frozen food, ready meals, and QSR supply chains. Comparable Middle East food conglomerate with a similarly broad portfolio and international expansion focus.
- Almarai: Saudi Arabia-based and the largest vertically integrated dairy company in the world, with a diversified food portfolio across dairy, juices, bakery, and poultry. Closely comparable to Solico's Kalleh dairy operations and its diversified multi-brand food conglomerate structure across the Middle East.
- Tat Gıda: Turkey-based food company (part of Koç Holding) operating in dairy, frozen foods, ready meals, and beverages. Comparable as a regional emerging-market food conglomerate with a similarly diversified branded product portfolio.
- IFFCO Group: UAE-based food conglomerate with a diversified portfolio across edible oils, snacks, dairy, and personal care. Operates in similar Middle East emerging markets with a comparable multi-brand FMCG strategy and export-led growth.
- Savola Group: Saudi food conglomerate operating across edible oils, sugar, dairy, and packaged foods with branded products including Afia. Similar Middle East food conglomerate structure with a multi-brand portfolio and regional export ambitions.
Emerging players
- Ülker: Turkey-based confectionery and snack foods company with a strong regional brand portfolio. Compares as a regional branded-food operator with a similar multi-brand strategy across snacks, biscuits, and chocolate categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solico Group social profiles
Digital presenceSolico Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solico Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Solico Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries49 records
Solico Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solico Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solico Group
What does Solico Group do?
Solico Group is a privately held Iranian food conglomerate that manufactures, processes, trades, distributes, and sells a diversified portfolio of food and beverage products through 70+ brands. Its core offerings span dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, labneh, kefir), beverages (juices, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, malt drinks, non-alcoholic craft beer, sparkling water), ice cream and frozen treats, desserts, spreads, sauces, ready and semi-ready foods, baby and child nutrition, sports nutrition, coffee, and confectionery, sold via B2B wholesale, domestic retail, and international export channels.
Is Solico Group a public or private company?
Solico Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solico Group founded?
Solico Group was founded in 1977. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Solico Group based?
Solico Group is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Solico Group make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Dairy Products are the primary driver. The others are beverages, ice Cream, desserts and Sauces, ready and Semi-Ready Foods, B2B Wholesale Supply and international Export.
Who are Solico Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Danone, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Arla Foods. Direct peers are Americana Group, Almarai, Tat Gıda, IFFCO Group and Savola Group. Ülker is listed as an emerging player.
Does Solico Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solico Group.
What industry is Solico Group in?
Solico Group's product category is Food Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAHAB, Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks), with a secondary code of CRADAAAC, Spreads, Sweeteners & Syrups (Jam, Honey, Nut Butters, Maple). Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2000.