The aircraft food factory TMM (Aircraft Food Industry) owned by El Al is expanding, and today a cornerstone laying ceremony was held for the establishment of the new factory in the western operational area of the Israeli Air Force. The ceremony was also attended by the owner of El Al, Mr. Kenny Rosenberg, the CEO of El Al, Dina Ben Tal Gnansia, the CEO of TAM, Oz Radomsky and the rabbis Eliyahu Iloz responsible for kashrut on behalf of the national rabbinate, and Rabbi Shlomo Danino, El Al’s halachic advisor.
The TAM company is the leader in Israel in the field of aircraft food. It was founded in 1949, and the existing factory has been in the same location for 54 years. Innovation, quality and professionalism allow the company to serve the customers of the various companies from the various sectors with more than 7 million varied meals each year. Tamam is currently able to produce up to 30,000 portions per day. With the expansion of the activities of El Al and Netavg, there are several days a year that are not enough. The new factory is planned for a production capacity of 45,000 dishes per day. It will be spread over an area of about 13,000 square meters, and will employ about 650 workers. The investment in the new plant is estimated at about 57 million dollars.
The owner, Mr. Kenny Rosenberg said that he felt in placing this corner, ‘building a tabernacle in Israel’. And as is his custom, he ended his speech by quoting from the sources, with the blessing that Moses blessed the building of the Mishkan, “May it be that you will serve Him with the works of our hands.”
The CEO of El Al, Dina Ben Tal Gnansia, announced at the ceremony: “We are not an airline that specializes in service – we are a service company that specializes in aviation! El Al is in the process of renewal, and is taking off to areas that a year ago we would not have dared to dream of. As part of the process, today we are laying the cornerstone for the largest and most advanced kosher food factory in the world. An innovative and efficient plant, combining food technologies and other technologies. We work hard to improve the product for our customers, an inseparable part of this is the food served on planes, where we bring a big line with the new factory and our new chef, Assaf Granit.”
El Al’s halachic advisor, Rabbi Shlomo Danino, said: “The largest kosher food factory in the world – TMM – excels in the production of high-quality food, while adhering to the highest level of kosher. Happily, the management sees eye to eye on kosher alongside quality. We now get to lay a cornerstone, to build a magnificent dwelling place.
CEO of TAM, Oz Radomsky: “The plant to be built will respond to El Al’s strategic plans for the next 25 years. Today TMM employs about 400 employees, some of whom have 20, 30 and even over 40 years of experience, and work around the clock 24/6. Already these days we are busy implementing new, most advanced work processes, so that our entry into the new factory will be optimal.’
Rabbi Eliyahu Iloz, head of the kashrut department in the chief rabbinate: “The mitzvah of settling Eretz Yisrael is very important. A person who builds in the Land of Israel has a greater virtue, therefore, the wise are wise to purchase land in the Land of Israel even on Shabbat. How good it is to do business in Israel, both doing business and fulfilling a mitzvah. I wish you a divine help, when you do something right from the beginning, then the continuation is much easier. A building is being built here that will help many people to eat TAM’s excellent kosher. We wish all of us success. The cornerstone is being laid today, and the mezuzah will be fixed as soon as possible.’
In the cover photo from right to left: Kenny Rosenberg. Dina Ben-Tal Gnansia. Moshe stayed again. Oz Radomski.
Photographs: photo gallery
