Al Maha Foods
Al Maha Foods is a New Delhi-based Indian Basmati rice exporter and quality assurance provider, founded in 1998. It serves international buyers in the GCC, Middle East, and Asia through B2B export and third-party QA services, and distributes branded rice domestically via distributors and e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Al Maha Foods does
Al Maha Foods International Private Limited is a New Delhi-headquartered Indian Basmati rice exporter and third-party quality assurance provider, founded in 1998 and led by CEO Salman Habeeb. The company operates across three business pillars: B2B export of Indian Basmati rice (Raw, Steam Brown, and Parboiled variants) to international buyers, third-party quality assurance and inspection services for Basmati rice, and domestic distribution of branded rice products. Al Maha Foods claims to be India's first and largest dedicated quality assurance organization for Basmati rice and positions itself as a top-50 global Basmati rice exporter (Business Connect magazine, August 2025).
The company's technical backbone is a NABL-accredited laboratory operating under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, supported by ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification and ISO 22000:2018 food safety certification at its rice mill facilities, which are strategically located in India's paddy growing regions. The end-to-end QA workflow spans groundwater testing, crop surveys, pre-procurement inspection, rice mill audits, milling process inspection, and on-site inspection during packing and dispatch, executed by qualified rice analysts using Kaizen continuous improvement practices. Al Maha Foods also holds Star Export House status from India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade, validating its export track record.
The business model combines a B2B sales-led motion for export and QA services with quote-based, multi-year contracts against international buyers in the GCC, Middle East, and broader Asia, alongside a domestic distributor and wholesale network across India and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (perfectchoicebasmati.com) for the Perfect Choice brand portfolio. The branded product range includes export brands (Al Maha Sella, Punjabi Al Maha White, PC Sella, AL Waha Sella) and domestic brands (Perfect Choice Supreme, Special, Tibar, Dubar, Mongra, Mini Mongra) across pack sizes from 1kg to 25kg. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors and reports a headcount band of 51–100 employees.
Al Maha Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Al Maha Foods
- Legal name
- Al Maha Foods International Private Limited
- Website
- https://almahafoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Al Maha Foods is a New Delhi-based Indian Basmati rice exporter and quality assurance provider, founded in 1998. It serves international buyers in the GCC, Middle East, and Asia through B2B export and third-party QA services, and distributes branded rice domestically via distributors and e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Al Maha Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Basmati Rice Exports & Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Rice Milling (311212), Grain and Oilseed Milling (3112)
- SIC
- Grain Mill Products (2040), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rice & Grain Processing (milling, polishing, parboiling, blending) (AFAKABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Starches, Flours & Milling Products Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAH)
Keywords
Where Al Maha Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Al Maha Foods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Export of Basmati Rice: Export of premium Indian Basmati Rice including Raw, Steam Brown, and Parboiled Rice variants to international markets. The company operates rice mills strategically located in paddy growing areas and provides complete solutions to buyers with best business practices. Al Maha brands specialize in Indian Raw Basmati Rice and Indian Sella Basmati Rice serving diverse quality and pricing needs across all segments and geographies.
- Quality Assurance Services: Quality Assurance and Inspection Services provided to selected quality-conscious Basmati rice buyers worldwide. Services include handholding in understanding crop expectations, future contingencies, market dynamics, and market intelligence. The company provides services from paddy through milling to port of shipment, ensuring customer value optimization with detailed quality inspections at every stage.
- Domestic Market Services: Distribution of high-quality Basmati rice products to Indian consumers through an extensive distribution network across India. Products include various brands (Perfect Choice Supreme, Perfect Choice Special, Perfect Choice Tibar, Perfect Choice Dubar, Perfect Choice Mongra, Perfect Choice Mini Mongra) in different pack sizes to meet diverse consumer needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B enterprise pricing for export and QA services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Al Maha Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Al Maha Foods produces, processes and exports Indian Basmati Rice (Raw, Steam Brown, and Parboiled variants) under multiple export and domestic brands (Al Maha Sella, Punjabi Al Maha White, PC Sella, AL Waha Sella, and Perfect Choice portfolio). It also operates India's first and largest dedicated Basmati Rice Quality Assurance organisation, providing end-to-end inspection services from paddy procurement and mill audit through milling, packing, and shipment to international buyers.
Product overview
Al Maha Foods operates as a unified Basmati rice business offering both products and quality assurance services. The company exports Basmati rice under multiple brands including Al Maha Sella Basmati Rice, Punjabi Al Maha White Basmati Rice, PC Sella Basmati Rice, and AL Waha Sella Basmati Rice. For the domestic Indian market, they offer the Perfect Choice brand portfolio consisting of Perfect Choice Supreme, Perfect Choice Special, Perfect Choice Tibar, Perfect Choice Dubar, Perfect Choice Mongra, and Perfect Choice Mini Mongra. Alongside product offerings, the company provides Quality Assurance Services as India's first and largest QA organization for Basmati Rice, offering inspection services from paddy through milling to port of shipment. The three service pillars are: Export of Basmati Rice, Quality Assurance Services, and Domestic Market Services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Al Maha Sella Basmati Rice: Brand containing the wonder grain renowned for long grain, delicate aroma and exotic flavour. The preferred brand of renowned chefs around the world.
- Punjabi Al Maha White Basmati Rice
- Perfect Choice Basmati Rice
- PC Sella Basmati Rice
- AL Waha Sella Basmati Rice
Products and services
- Al Maha Sella Basmati Rice Premium parboiled (Sella) Basmati Rice export brand renowned for long grain, delicate aroma, and exotic flavour; positioned for international buyers and chefs.
- Punjabi Al Maha White Basmati Rice Steam (white) Basmati Rice export brand of superior quality and taste, used in traditional and modern Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
- PC Sella Basmati Rice Parboiled Sella Basmati Rice with premium quality, long and slender grain, fluffy texture, and aromatic flavour, targeted at international buyers.
- AL Waha Sella Basmati Rice Leading brand in Al Maha's Sella Basmati rice segment; parboiled to retain more nutrients and flavour during cooking for international customers.
- Perfect Choice Supreme Basmati Rice Flagship domestic premium Basmati Rice from Perfect Choice portfolio with exceptional aroma and taste; positioned for special occasions and Veg/Non-veg Biryani recipes.
- Perfect Choice Special Basmati Rice Special grade Basmati Rice with excellent quality at competitive prices; suited for Veg Pulav, Peas Pulav, Kashmiri Pulav, Zafrani Pulav, and Jeera Rice.
- Perfect Choice Tibar Basmati Rice Traditional Basmati rice variety delivering authentic Indian Basmati taste and aroma; suited for Biryani recipes and Steam Rice.
- Perfect Choice Dubar Basmati Rice Domestic Basmati Rice aimed at daily meal consumption as steam rice; available in 25kg, 10kg, 5kg, and 1kg packs.
- Perfect Choice Mongra Basmati Rice Smaller grain cut size Basmati Rice variant representing broken parts of the same quality rice as Supreme and Special grades, for domestic consumers.
- Perfect Choice Mini Mongra Basmati Rice Mini variant of the Mongra broken Basmati rice product, sold to domestic consumers as a smaller-grain option.
- Export of Basmati Rice service Export service for Indian Basmati Rice — Raw, Steam Brown, and Parboiled variants — from ISO 22000:2018 certified rice mills strategically located in paddy growing regions, delivered to international buyers in GCC, Asia and Middle East.
- Quality Assurance Services End-to-end QA and inspection services for Basmati rice buyers worldwide, including crop survey, pre-procurement inspection, rice mill audit, milling process inspection, and onsite inspection during packing and dispatch, supported by a NABL-accredited laboratory.
- Domestic Market Distribution Services Domestic distribution services for the Perfect Choice Basmati rice portfolio across India through an extensive network of distributors and partners, ensuring timely delivery and customer support.
Quantifiable outcome
- First and Largest QA Organization for Basmati Rice in India
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Al Maha Foods
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Al Maha Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Al Maha Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Local NGOs and Government BodiessupportingAl Maha Foods executes its CSR projects in collaboration with local NGOs and government bodies. These projects focus on upliftment of local communities, use of sustainable practices in operations, and favorable impact on the environment. CSR initiatives include child education infrastructure, healthcare facilities, farmer awareness programs, and safe drinking water provision in backward regions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Al Maha Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amira Nature Foods: Indian-origin premium basmati and specialty rice exporter with global distribution. Comparable as a basmati-centric exporter competing in similar premium international channels as Al Maha.
- Kohinoor Foods: Indian basmati rice exporter and packaged foods player with established presence in Middle East markets. Comparable target geographies and product mix, competing on similar basmati SKUs to similar institutional and retail buyers.
- Sunstar Overseas: Indian basmati rice miller and exporter serving Middle East, GCC, and other export markets with branded and private-label basmati. Closely matches Al Maha on milling capability, export channel, and customer segments.
- LT Foods: Publicly listed Indian basmati and specialty rice company marketing the Daawat and Royal brands globally. Closely comparable as an integrated basmati miller-exporter with multi-region distribution, branded retail play, and scale advantages over Al Maha.
- Best Foods Limited: Indian basmati rice and other grain processor/exporter with manufacturing and export operations. Direct peer on milling capability, export market focus, and India-origin basmati sourcing.
- KRBL Limited: India's largest basmati rice exporter and producer of the India Gate brand. Directly comparable as an Indian basmati miller/exporter with global distribution and similar Star Export House / ISO certifications competing for the same Middle East, GCC, and Asia buyers.
Regional players
- Matco Foods: Pakistan-based basmati rice miller and exporter with comparable premium product positioning. Competitor for global basmati buyers from a competing origin, relevant for cross-border pricing and demand dynamics impacting Al Maha's export competitiveness.
Broad incumbents
- Tilda Rice: UK-based premium basmati and specialty rice miller with strong retail brand presence. Comparable in product positioning (premium basmati) and QA-driven differentiation rather than scale, competing for the same quality-conscious international buyers.
- Cargill India: Global agri-commodity giant with significant Indian rice sourcing and trading operations. Competes with Al Maha on bulk basmati supply, B2B trading relationships, and food-safety/QA capabilities, though as part of a much broader commodities portfolio.
Others
- SGS India (Agricultural Services): Global third-party inspection, verification, and testing company with strong agri-commodity presence in India. Relevant adjacent peer given Al Maha's positioning around QA/inspection services for basmati — a potential substitute or partner as the QA services line is productized.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Al Maha Foods social profiles
Digital presenceAl Maha Foods compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Al Maha Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Al Maha Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Al Maha Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Al Maha Foods 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 Al Maha Foods
What does Al Maha Foods do?
Al Maha Foods produces, processes and exports Indian Basmati Rice (Raw, Steam Brown, and Parboiled variants) under multiple export and domestic brands (Al Maha Sella, Punjabi Al Maha White, PC Sella, AL Waha Sella, and Perfect Choice portfolio). It also operates India's first and largest dedicated Basmati Rice Quality Assurance organisation, providing end-to-end inspection services from paddy procurement and mill audit through milling, packing, and shipment to international buyers.
Is Al Maha Foods a public or private company?
Al Maha Foods is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Al Maha Foods founded?
Al Maha Foods was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Al Maha Foods based?
Al Maha Foods is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Al Maha Foods make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Export of Basmati Rice is the primary driver. The others are quality Assurance Services and domestic Market Services.
Who are Al Maha Foods's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amira Nature Foods, Kohinoor Foods, Sunstar Overseas, LT Foods, Best Foods Limited and KRBL Limited. Matco Foods is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Tilda Rice and Cargill India. SGS India (Agricultural Services) is listed as an others.
Does Al Maha Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Al Maha Foods.
What industry is Al Maha Foods in?
Al Maha Foods's product category is Basmati Rice Exports & Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKABAE, Rice & Grain Processing (milling, polishing, parboiling, blending), with a secondary code of AFAIAKAH, Starches, Flours & Milling Products Trading/Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 311212 and its SIC code is 2040.