China bans seafood from Japan

China bans seafood from Japan, restaurants brace for cost jump

Beijing curbs food imports from multiple prefectures in Japan as Tokyo begins to release wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific

Khaby Lame partners with Talabat

World’s biggest TikTok star Khaby Lame partners with Talabat in Egypt in new ad

Talabat’s collaboration with the TikTok star aims to target Egypt’s young demographic while expanding its reach

Delektia

SME Story: Interview with Ali Wahoud, founding investor at Delektia

The company is an example of a non-tech venture gaining significant traction in the dynamic Middle Eastern startup landscape

Coffee brand caffe vergnano CEO Carolina Vergnano Image supplied

Exclusive: Caffè Vergnano’s CEO shines the spotlight on UAE’s coffee culture

The UAE has become a hub of speciality coffee, with the young generation invested in learning about coffee, and opening specialty coffee shops, says Carolina Vergnano

DWTC’s hospitality arm reports 32% growth in H1 2023

DWTC’s hospitality arm reports 32% growth in H1 2023

The first half of 2023 witnessed the team’s service at 1,166 events, including royal weddings

Agthia Group is fostering UAE’s food security strategy

Exclusive: Alan Smith on Agthia Group’s growth and food security strategy

The group’s CEO explains how they are setting an example for the industry, contributing to UAE’s food security strategy

Al Dhara and ADEX to supply wheat to Egypt in $500m deal image WAM

Al Dahra, ADEX partner to supply wheat to Egypt in $500m deal

Al Dahra currently farms 28,000 hectares in Egypt that help sustain the country’s food security by producing staple crops

Tanmiah posts SAR983.1m in H1 revenues

Tanmiah H1 revenue surges to SAR983.1m on poultry sales

The food manufacturer’s half-year profit increased by 2.2 per cent to SAR32.4m from SAR31.7m a year earlier

Lulu Mall in Fujairah

Lulu to raise $2.7bn ahead of possible IPO

The Abu Dhabi-based hypermarket chain is realigning its capital structure before a possible listing in 2024 after delaying those plans this year

rice price

Soaring rice prices stretch budgets for billions in Asia, Africa

Rice contributes as much as 60 per cent of total calorie intake for people in parts of Southeast Asia and Africa

India’s rice export ban sparks concern that sugar may be next

Uneven rainfall across the country’s agricultural belts has stoked concern that sugar production will fall short

ADQ to open next gen greehouse in ADQ Image ADQ twitter

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, Safe Haven Solutions to construct high-tech greenhouse in KEZAD

The new project will use advanced technology to sustainably cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers year-round in the UAE

Saudi

Saudi city of future enlists Dutch help to grow crops in desert

It is carving out an area the size of some 15 soccer fields to form a horticulture oasis on the outskirts of Neom

Agthia Group posts 6.6% first-half profit rise to Dhs144m

Agthia Group posts 6.6% increase in first-half profit to Dhs144m

The group’s revenues in the six months to June 30 surged by 10.3 per cent year-on-year to Dhs2.2bn

Americana Restaurants on MSCI UAE Index

Americana Restaurants posts 19.4% net profit for H1 2023

Americana said its year-on-year revenue growth was underpinned by continued expansion of restaurant portfolios across its MENA operations

Abu Dhabi's ADQ, IHC look to merge with Q Holding Image GettyImages-1366647006

ADQ, IHC Capital propose merger with Q Holding to create $12bn entity

The proposed transaction would create one of the largest real estate, hospitality, events and catering platforms in the region

McDonald's UAE Umm Suqeim All-female Team at restaurant launch Image McDonald's UAE

McDonald’s UAE opens first outlet with all-female staff, features partial solar PV roof, EV charging ports

The latest venue features another ‘first’, as the branch has also introduced curbside ordering, allowing customers to place orders digitally from designated parking spaces

food threats

Heat, conflicts and export bans: Global food threats are on the rise

The extreme heat engulfing swaths of Asia, Europe and North America is just the latest challenge driving fluctuations in the global commodity markets and impacting food prices

millet

This humble grain is showing up on Michelin-starred menus

Consumer goods companies are betting on increasing demand with innovative, millet-based snacks

Bloom market

Dubai Municipality opens Bloom Market; largest retail space for exotic fresh produce: First look

The Bloom Market is a Dubai Municipality venture to increase the competitiveness of the emirate in sourcing and selling a range of products from across the world

commodity

Five key charts to watch in global commodity markets this week

The global oil market, climate change, Ukraine’s grains exports and the aluminium sector are among the top commodity markets to keep an eye on this week

Agthia Ventures launched Image Agthia Group

Abu Dhabi-based Agthia Group launches $54m CVC fund

The fund is stage-agnostic and will invest primarily in companies with clear product-market fit that are demonstrating revenue growth

Red Sea Global

Red Sea Global awards contracts worth $2.4bn to Saudi Airlines Catering

The partnership is expected to create more than 500 new jobs for local talent across the kingdom

aspartame

World Health Organization to assess cancer risk of diet-soda sweetener aspartame

The US Food and Drug Administration has considered aspartame safe since 1974, but others have questioned that finding

Mohammad A. Baker, Deputy Chairman and CEO of GMG and Mahmood Ameen, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Flight Catering announcing the partnership Image GMG

Emirates Flight Catering, GMG ink deal to provide ready-to-go meals

The meals will be prepared based on a menu curated by Emirates Flight Catering chefs

plant based meat Thryve

IFFCO’s 100% plant-based meat Thryve set to debut in Saudi Arabia

Plant-based meat is increasingly being considered as an alternative to meat products in order to reduce the global carbon footprint of existing food systems

Ahmed Al Naqbi, CEO Emirates Development Bank Image Emirates Development Bank

Emirates Development Bank launches UAE’s first agritech loans programme

The programme is targetted at farmers, local producers, technology providers, equipment suppliers, and those involved in the agriculture support ecosystem

al khayyat investments _ interview with Managing director Zaid Al Khayyat Image Supplied

Zaid S Al Khayyat of Al Khayyat Investments shares the company’s expansion plans

The holding company’s managing director highlights how the company has been charting its growth path as it supports Dubai’s grand economic vision

G20 MEET

UAE calls for ensuring food security at G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meet

The G20 Agriculture Ministers meet called for the need to establish sustainable agricultural systems capable of adapting to climate change and biodiversity loss

Food security AgriTech GCC

GCC: How tech can support food security

We explore the role of innovative technologies in achieving food security in the GCC region