Safwan Thabet’s Juhayna stake drops $71 million

Egyptian businessman Safwan Thabet, a leading figure in the Middle East and North Africa’s consumer goods sector, has seen the market value of his stake in Juhayna Food Industries drop sharply as the company’s shares continue to fall on the Egyptian Exchange.

Over the past 16 days, Thabet’s 50.1 percent holding, managed through his private firm Pharon Investments Limited, has lost $71 million in value. This follows modest gains earlier in the year, thus highlighting how quickly investor sentiment can shift in the stock market.

Earlier gains give way to fresh losses

Between Sept. 9 and Sept. 24, Thabet’s stake posted a solid rebound, rising by about $40 million as Juhayna’s shares moved higher on the exchange. During that two-week stretch, the market value of his holding surged from $496 million to $536 million, offering a short-lived boost after months of uneven trading.

That rally, however, proved difficult to sustain. Since early November, selling pressure has returned. Juhayna’s share price has fallen by 13.48 percent over the last 16 days, sliding from EGP26.7 to about EGP23.1, dragging its market capitalization below $560 million.

The decrease weighed heavily on shareholders; as a result, Thabet, the company’s majority shareholder, saw his stake slip from EGP25.14 billion ($527.86 million) on Nov. 11 to EGP21.75 billion ($456.69 million), thus erasing millions of dollars in paper value in just over two weeks.

Long-standing brand faces year-to-date pressure

Founded more than four decades ago by Safwan Thabet, Juhayna ranks as one of Egypt’s leading producers of dairy products, juices and packaged foods. Its brands are widely recognized, and its products remain staples in households across the country.

Despite its strong market presence, Juhayna’s stock has struggled in 2025. Shares are down 14.6 percent year-to-date, meaning a $100,000 investment at the start of the year would now be worth $85,400, a loss of $14,600. Even with the decline, Juhayna remains a top consumer company on the bourse, and Thabet continues to rank among North Africa’s wealthiest men.