Opinion Agriculture The memory of water: Saudi Arabia’s troubled history Growing crops and preserving water is a balancing act for Saudi Arabia March 20, 2024
Food & Drink Almarai’s $4.8bn push to advance Saudi food security Almarai, the Middle East’s largest dairy farm, will spend more than SAR18 billion ($4.8 billion) under its new five-year strategic plan to achieve food security, which is part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal. “Investment in the food industry contributes to achieving food security in the kingdom and the region,” the company said in a […] March 19, 2024
Analysis Food & Drink UAE businesses dispute predicted Ramadan downturn UAE businesses are optimistic about Ramadan’s prospects in spite of a projected 10 percent decline in spending over the holy month. The anticipated dip is partly linked to considerable consumer expenditure after the pandemic and during recent festive sales, according to a study by Redseer Strategy Consultants. “The last two years were a period of […] March 10, 2024
Food & Drink Alcohol brands blocked from Dubai target Abu Dhabi Independent alcohol brands blocked from the Dubai market are entering the UAE by breaking into the more open Abu Dhabi market, industry insiders have said. The alcohol market in the UAE is regulated at the emirate level, and each has different levels of access and competition. Dubai’s market is a duopoly. Two distributors – Maritime […] March 8, 2024
Food & Drink Kuwait’s Alshaya lays off Mena Starbucks staff Kuwait’s Alshaya Group, one of the Gulf’s largest franchise owners, is cutting jobs at its Starbucks outlets. The coffee brand has suffered from calls for a boycott since the start of the Gaza conflict. “As a result of the continually challenging trading conditions over the last six months, we have taken the sad and very […] March 5, 2024
Food & Drink Egyptian food producer plans European expansion An Egyptian food producer is planning to expand into European markets on the back of a significant rise in US sales. City Farm, a frozen fruits and vegetables processor, intends to open representative offices in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands first. CEO Mahmoud Lamei said the plan followed “remarkable success” in the United States and […] March 4, 2024
Video length: 05:02 Food & Drink Agthia increases stake in Egyptian snack group Agthia Group has raised its stake in the Egyptian snacks company Auf Group to 70 percent, the latest UAE investment in the North African country. The food and beverages group, which is majority owned by the Abu Dhabi government through the state investor ADQ, acquired a 60 percent stake in Auf Group in 2022. In […] March 1, 2024
Trade Brazilian exports to Kuwait rise in readiness for Ramadan With Ramadan around the corner, trade between Kuwait and Brazil has been brisk – the Latin American country plays an important role in supplying the food needed for Iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal that Muslims enjoy during the holy month. Brazilian exports to the Gulf country spiked in November as Muslim importers began to prepare […] March 1, 2024
Video length: 05:02 VIDEO Food & Drink Made in UAE: consumers turn to local food brands UAE consumers are increasingly turning to locally produced products, according to the head of a multi-billion-dirham food and beverage conglomerate. Consumption patterns in the region are changing rapidly, prioritising healthy lifestyles, time-saving and convenience while maintaining authentic tastes. “If you can produce something locally, give them good value for money, they are much more open […] February 27, 2024
Trade UK cheese sales buck trend in F&B exports to the GCC British cheese continues to grow in popularity with regional consumers, but it could not prevent total food and drink exports from the UK to the GCC declining in 2023. Exports were down by almost 7 percent year on year to £816 million ($1 billion). The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attributed the […] February 22, 2024
Food & Drink Morocco gets $188m to build three desalinisation plants Moroccan fertiliser company OCP Group has secured $188 million worth of funding to build three new seawater desalinisation plants as part of the government’s emergency plan for drinking water supply. The state-backed company signed an agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to fund its green investment programme. The construction of the new desalinisation plants […] February 21, 2024
Food & Drink UAE diners eat local as global fast food faces boycott Homegrown restaurants in the UAE are reporting a lift in sales since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict, as diners opt for local brands over international fast-food outlets. Steve Flawith, founder of UAE-based Yolk Brands that operates the Pickl and BonBird chains, said its sales have increased by 15 to 20 percent since the start […] February 19, 2024
Food & Drink Americana 2023 revenue rises on 300 new store openings Americana Restaurants, the Middle East and North Africa franchisee of fast-food restaurants KFC and Pizza Hut, said it will remain focused on growth and market penetration after opening a record 300 new stores last year. The new stores pushed revenue at Americana to $2.4 billion in 2023, a gain of 1.5 percent year on year. […] February 15, 2024
Trade Maharashtra plans food security corridor with UAE The central Indian state of Maharashtra is working to develop a food security corridor with the UAE. The government of Maharashtra, which has 11 million farmers, has linked up with US fund manager Pegasus Capital Advisors for the food trade project. Under their agreement, the Maharashtra authorities will share an operational plan within three months, […] February 14, 2024
Leisure & Hospitality Tanmiah Food’s 2023 profit falls 59% on pricing pressure Saudi-listed Tanmiah Food Company’s net profit for 2023 fell 59 percent year on year to SAR75.9 million ($20.24 million) on lower subsidy payout, increasing pricing pressure, and continued expansion of fresh poultry and Popeyes stores. Revenues rose 21 percent to SAR2.09 billion last year, primarily due to increased sales volumes, enhanced geographical coverage and channel […] February 11, 2024
Opinion Leisure & Hospitality A pleasant stroll through The Village, Dubai-style If you were to stop at each restaurant, bar or hotel along the way, a week would not be enough February 9, 2024
Food & Drink Kuwait’s Alshaya in talks to sell Starbucks stake Kuwait’s Alshaya Group is in talks to sell a minority stake in its regional Starbucks business that covers the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia, according to reports. The Kuwaiti retailer operates 70 brands in 4,000 stores across 18 countries. This includes the franchise for Starbucks, with 2,000 stores in 17 countries. US private […] February 9, 2024
Leisure & Hospitality Neom aquaculture venture seeks fish self-sufficiency Saudi Arabia’s mega-project Neom has set up a joint aquaculture venture with Tabuk Fisheries Company of Riyadh to meet the kingdom’s goal of producing 600,000 tonnes of fish products annually by 2030. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in 2021 to set up Topian Aquaculture. The new venture will include a hatchery that is […] February 7, 2024
Food & Drink Air corridor for Abu Dhabi aims to support food security Abu Dhabi is planning to establish an air corridor for perishable goods in a bid to develop new trade routes and support the UAE’s food security efforts. Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Airports and Abu Dhabi Food Hub – Kezad have signed a tri-party memorandum of understanding. Abu Dhabi Food Hub is the country’s first dedicated […] February 5, 2024
Food & Drink Dubai drinks supplier raises a glass to Dry January Drink Dry, a Dubai-based supplier of non-alcoholic beverages, has reported a 20 percent bump in sales during Dry January, defying a traditional post-festive period slump in the hospitality sector. Dry January is an initiative launched in the UK by Alcohol Change in 2013. It involves consumers abstaining from alcohol for the first month of the […] January 31, 2024
Analysis Agriculture UAE in talks to buy more African land to aid food security The UAE has 14 land acquisition deals in the pipeline, mainly in Africa, as it looks to keep food security high on its policy agenda. It has already signed 56 land agreements, with the first completed more than 50 years ago in Sudan. The 14 deals are subject to either an expression of interest, a […] January 31, 2024
People & Lifestyle Saudi to open alcohol store for non-Muslim diplomats Saudi Arabia will open its first alcohol store in Riyadh that will be available exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats, according to several media reports. Customers will have to register through a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly purchase quotas, Reuters reported, citing a document. The foreign affairs ministry is […] January 25, 2024
