Most of us board a plane and either fall asleep… or binge a movie.
But almost everyone eats the meal.
What you don’t realize is , that meal was planned months in advance…
The Menu was chosen, and tested extensively to ensure passenger safety.
Thousands of hours of prep… for a dish that somehow still tastes like wet cardboard.
But behind that bland meal is a big business , serving 114 airlines, 41.5 million meals a year, and running behind the scenes in Saudi airspace.
📈The Stock: Catrion (6004.SR)
Founded in 1981, Catrion is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest food logistics and airline catering companies.
Its core business?
Hajj & Umrah catering → Handles massive seasonal demand with precision
In-flight meals → prepared, packed, and delivered across 114 airlines.
Main customer →Saudia Airlines (national carrier)
They’re an essential service for Saudi air travel.
In short: If you’ve flown out of the Kingdom, there’s a good chance Catrion fed you.
💰Show me The Money
Metric (SAR) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Revenue (Billions) | 1.818 | 2.134 | 2.299 |
Net Income(Millions) | 257.1 | 282.6 | 352.7 |
Return on Equity (%) | 25.81 | 23.5 | 25.77 |
Catrion isn’t flashy but it's reliable, profitable, and operationally tight.
It thrives on volume, and long contracts making it a strong pick for investors looking for steady compounding tied to Saudi aviation and tourism.
🥱What’s So Special?
Catrion was hit hard during COVID. As air travel came to a standstill, its core business airline catering nearly collapsed. But a comeback has been made!
Revenue and net income have steadily grown year over year.
Return on equity is back above 25%, and the company maintains a low debt profile, giving it financial flexibility.
Importantly, Catrion is no longer just dependent on in-flight meals.
It’s expanding into airport lounges, institutional catering, and religious tourism logistics.
With Hajj and Umrah travel expected to scale significantly as part of Vision 2030, we believe Catrion is not only back , it’s becoming a stable, diversified play on Saudi Arabia’s post-COVID growth story.
See You Next Sunday!