Dubai-based Global Shipping & Logistics (GSL), a logistics service provider and subsidiary of Al Shirawi Group, has signed an agreement with DHL-Danzas and Master Foods agreeing to host, manage and provide specialised support to the latter.

The company will be in charge of the distribution of products by Master Foods, a unit responsible for sales and marketing of chocolate products by Mars Incorporated, in UAE, other Gulf States and the entire MENA region.

GSL, which has a Dh130 million warehousing and distribution centre at Dubai Investment Park, now expects a significant increase in its business operations. Last year it installed one of the most hi-tech cooling systems that allows customers to monitor their food consignments on the Internet.

The facility also includes racking and converters to maximise cold storage space and the complex offers a total of 20,000-tonne capacity for frozen and chilled products. A dozen special chambers offer storage spaces ranging from 12 sea containers to 1,500 pallets of stock.

In the UK, Mars earlier last month backflipped over the use of animal extracts in some of its chocolate confectionery – including Mars and Snickers bars. However, ingredients used in its other products, such as Twix, Bounty, Celebrations, Topic and Milky Way, will not be changed, meaning they will continue to be unsuitable for vegetarians.