 The company notably partnered with PepsiCo from 2009 onwards and has been responsible for acquiring a number of large businesses.Almarai started its operations in 1977 by Irish brothers Alastair McGuckian and Paddy McGuckian and Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabir (who is currently the chairman of the board).During the early years of the company's history, there was little infrastructure for the production and sale of milk in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.