Trading Halted on Israeli Food Importer Tomer Food Amid Inventory Irregularities

Tomer Food, a newly listed Israeli food import company, has halted trading of its shares due to reported irregularities in inventory management. The company disclosed the issue shortly before its scheduled release of first-half financial results. The trading suspension follows the unexpected resignation of the newly appointed CFO, Avital Perlstein Cherni, who stepped down two days before starting her role in September. Tomer Food attributed the resignation and subsequent investigation to concerns over how inventory was handled in previous years.

The company immediately initiated a review to assess the impact of these inventory issues on its financial statements, particularly those published in April 2026 as part of its merger approval to enter the stock exchange. Tomer Food joined the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange about three months ago after merging with the shell company Sifia Vision, under the guidance of investment banking firm Mor-Langerman. It currently trades with a market value of approximately 138 million shekels and is majority-owned by businessman Doron Kimelov.

Founded in 1979, Tomer Food imports and markets over 1,600 food products and employs 73 workers. It operates a 30,000-square-meter logistics center in the Bar-Lev industrial park in northern Israel. According to preliminary financial data under review, the company reported revenues of 244 million shekels in 2025, a 20% increase from the previous year, and a net profit of 3.1 million shekels, up 42%. Inventory was valued at 61.8 million shekels, down 8% year-over-year.

Doron Kimelov, who owns 61% of the company, receives an estimated total compensation of 2.8 million shekels, including a one million shekel bonus for meeting profit targets. His remuneration package includes a monthly salary of 118,000 shekels, a 5% share of the company’s annual operating profit, 30 days of annual leave with accumulation rights, expense reimbursements, and subscriptions to daily and financial newspapers, as well as a company car and mobile phone. His son, Tomer Kimelov, serves as VP of Regulation and Import, and his wife manages advertising and media.

Avital Perlstein Cherni holds a bachelor's degree in economics and accounting from Bar-Ilan University. Her previous roles include CFO positions at CyberGym, the Israel Electric Corporation, and the cannabis company Pharmocann, which declared insolvency two and a half years ago. The company’s investigation and the trading halt come as it prepares to clarify the financial impact of the inventory issues on its upcoming reports.