• Best Company for Sustainable Initiatives

• Best Localisation Project

• Private Healthcare Network of the Year

• Strategic Infrastructure Partnership of the Year

• Change-Maker Award
• Rasha Ramdan

• Healthcare & Life-Sciences Leadership Award
• Omaima Idris

• Legacy in Business & Philanthropy Award
• Linda Armanious 
• Yasmine Armanious

• Pioneering Leadership Award
• Pakinam Kafafi

• Pioneer in Publishing & Education Evolution
• Dalia Ibrahim

• Enterprise Business Transformation in Cash Management Solutions

• Seamless Payments Excellence Award of the Year

• Transformative Entrepreneur Award (10-Year Growth)
• Hassan Akef

• Startup Company of the Year

• Agricultural Exporter of the Year

• Energy Company of the Year

• Infrastructure Company of the Year

• Equity Excellence Award

• Logistics Company of the Year (Private Sector)

• Transport Manufacturing & Localisation Award

• Education Provider of the Year

• Best Holding Company of the Year

• Best Automotive Exporter of the Year

Fort Capital Wins Transformation & Innovation Award at Egypt Business Excellence Awards for the industry leadership of its pioneering model in food production and export

At the Egypt Business Excellence Awards held in Cairo on 12 November, hosted by MEED in partnership with Commercial International Bank Egypt, Fort Capital was honoured under the Transformation & Innovation Awards as Startup Company of the Year. The award recognises organisations that have demonstrated innovation, strategic impact and measurable contribution to national economic development. Fort Capital’s rapid emergence as a leading player in Egypt’s food and beverage sector, particularly in frozen potato exports, reflects its commitment to elevating the global presence of Egyptian products.

• What inspired the founding of Fort Capital?

Fort Capital was established with a mission to redefine standards in Egypt’s food and beverage sector while contributing to national economic growth. We identified an opportunity to elevate product quality and introduce a new benchmark for excellence that would resonate with both consumers and international markets. Central to our strategy is positioning Egypt as a global contender in value-added food exports. Today, over 80% of our French Fries production volume is exported, and the company has rapidly risen among national exporters, moving from the 21st position among Egyptian food exporters in 2024 to 14th among processed food exporters by mid-2025. Our broader goal is not only to build a commercially successful company, but to champion the “Made in Egypt” brand on the world stage.

•  What customer needs are you meeting in Egypt's FMCG market?

We meet the growing demand for reliable, premium-quality frozen food products in a market where consumers and restaurants alike are seeking consistency and value. By managing the full production chain from raw material to finished goods, we ensure quality at every stage. Our products meet international standards, enabling us to serve markets beyond Middle East in addition to North and Latin America markets. In doing so, we are not just supplying products; we are raising expectations of what the FMCG industry in Egypt can deliver.

•  How have you validated your product-market fit?

Our product–market fit strategy is grounded in continuous validation. We collaborate with research institutions and rely on data-driven decision-making from concept through commercial rollout. Participation in global trade exhibitions and ongoing feedback loops with key clients ensure our product offerings align with evolving market needs. Collaboration with national export councils adds benchmarking and regulatory alignment, strengthening our competitiveness in international markets.

• What growth milestones have you hit since launch?

Since launching operations in 2023 with our flagship French Fries facility in East Owainat, we have expanded our presence in strategic export markets including Brazil, the United States, and key GCC countries. We have upgraded our facilities to meet regional and global QSR audit standards, invested in seed development programs to improve local potato yields and quality consistency, and launched our consumer-facing brand, Fregys. By 2024, Fort Capital ranked number two nationally in frozen potato exports, contributing 18% of total sector export value. This share increased to 25% in the first half of 2025, reinforcing our strong growth trajectory.

•  What are your priorities for scaling your business?

Our scaling strategy focuses on capacity expansion, automation, brand leadership, and product diversification. We are increasing production capacity to meet rising global demand and introducing value-added products such as hash browns to expand our portfolio and access higher-margin segments. Fregys is now present in over 20 countries across multiple continents, and export growth remains central to our roadmap. As we scale, innovation and global market development continue to guide our long-term strategy.