How Qatar Built a $220M Dairy Empire in the Desert
Can a food crisis create a global company? And what can the world learn from a dairy farm in the desert?
You’ve heard of Nestlé, Danone, and even Chobani. But one of the most important dairy companies in the world isn’t European. It’s Qatari.
In 2017, Qatar faced a sudden blockade that cut off most of its imports, including food. Overnight, dairy products disappeared from supermarket shelves. Instead of waiting, Qatar built its own supply chain, from scratch.
This is the story of Baladna. A company that flew in 4,000 cows, built a massive dairy farm in the desert, and became the country’s main source of fresh milk in just two years. Today, Baladna supplies over 95% of Qatar’s dairy, exports to more than 11 countries, and is listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange.
This episode breaks down how Baladna turned a national emergency into a fast-growing business. How it built systems, owned its supply chain, and expanded beyond borders.
So can a food crisis create a global company? And what can the world learn from a dairy farm in the desert?
The Blueprint is an entrepreneurial-focused series digging into the origin stories and strategies behind the most successful companies in the world.
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