E-commerce

Saudi grocer BinDawood buys majority stake in online developer

The deal is expected to close in the second half of the year

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, Turkey Wealth Fund launch $300m venture capital fund

The fund will invest in companies developing emerging technologies or improving existing ones in key sectors

UAE israel education

UAE, Israel sign MoU to cooperate in agriculture

The ministries have agreed to collaborate on developing and sharing knowledge and technology to increase the quality of agricultural produce

Baskin Robbins celebrated the opening of its 1000th store at the Dubai Hills Mall on Thursday March 10, 2022 (Photo by Neeraj Murali)

Baskin-Robbins opens region’s 1,000th store in Dubai

Located in Dubai Hills Mall, the store was opened on March 10, by the American multinational chain and master licensee Galadari Ice Cream Company

Innovative products and trends governed Gulfood 2022

Zero waste, food security, homegrown brands, organic and plant-based food products and innovation in agriculture were key highlights of this year’s F&B event

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed announces one billion meals campaign

The campaign aims to secure food aid for vulnerable communities in 50 countries

Uber’s Careem seeks $500m from Abu Dhabi and Saudi funds

Dubai-based Careem has reportedly held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ to raise the funds

Al Rawabi

Al Rawabi to establish Dhs650m dairy production facility in Abu Dhabi

The plant located in the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi is expected to produce 23 million litres in its first operational year

Wheat soars to record, surpassing high during global food crisis

The elevated prices are triggering concerns about growing food insecurity

Agthia Ventures launched Image Agthia Group

Abu Dhabi’s Agthia Group posts Dhs216m in net profit for 2021

The group’s net revenue reached Dhs3.07bn in 2021

Saudi Arabia to get its first Spinneys store

The first store is expected to launch in Riyadh in the first quarter of 2023

Food inflation risks balloon as prices of wheat to palm oil soar

Palm oil, which is used in thousands of products from cookies to shampoo, is on a record breaking run

Dubai’s Jafza and Prime Aquaculture to build region’s first marine shrimp RAS farm

The high-tech farm will produce over 1,000 metric tonnes of shrimps annually – three times more than the current shrimp production in the UAE

UAE F&B

UAE’s F&B imports from Latin America reached $1.9bn in 2020

F&B exports from Latin American markets accounted for 12 per cent of the UAE’s total F&B imports in 2020

Cover story: Why Emirati entrepreneur Mahmoud Bartawi is confident on the future of healthy dining

Mahmoud Bartawi sold his successful healthy food business Under500 to Kitopi. Now he is ready to launch his next venture called Mealzap

Food

Gulfood 2022: UAE’s F&B trade crosses $20bn from January-September 2021

Ten markets accounted for about 66 per cent of the UAE’s total F&B exports, with Saudi Arabia ranking first with a share of 17 per cent

Dubai SME and Khalifa Fund announce collaboration to leverage Gulfood

The collaboration will enable UAE-based SMEs to gain easy access to new markets

Abu Dhabi to house zero-waste wholesale food trading hub

The food hub will assemble wholesale buyers, sellers, logistics players and distributors from across the world

Dubai adds 1,343 new food outlets in 2021

A total of 76,195 inspections of food establishments were carried out in the emirate last year

Dubai-based food technology platform Kitch-In expands into Europe

Kitch-In and Johnny’s Burger Co. will roll out virtual restaurant brands across 45 kitchens in the Netherlands and Belgium

Yasser Abdul Malak, Chairman & CEO of Nestle Middle East & North Africa

Yasser Abdul Malak appointed as MENA chairman and CEO of Nestlé

Nestlé MENA employs over 15,000 people in 19 countries, operates 25 factories , and achieved annual sales of nearly $3bn in 2020

Dubai World Trade Centre confirms 25 events for Q1 2022

Its exhibition season will kick off with Intersec which will be followed by other key events including Gulfood and World Art Dubai

Kitopi launches its first kitchens in Bahrain and Qatar

The company, which turns four this month, will set up operations in Malaysia and Singapore next

Roland Berger and Start-Up Nation Central partner to tap opportunities in the GCC

The organisations will collaborate on strategic initiatives to promote business agreements between Israeli companies and GCC-based government and commercial entities

Food costs dip from near record, offering some inflation respite

The fall in food prices prices last month was mainly driven by vegetable oils and sugar

abu DHabi

UAE’s Mubadala-backed Reef and Americana partner to open cloud kitchens across MENA

The cloud kitchens will operate Reef, Americana and third-party brands as well throughout the Middle East and North Africa

Saudi food delivery company Jahez prices IPO at top of range

The company plans to sell just over two million shares to raise about SAR1.8bn.

Urban farming startup Infarm gets funding from Qatar wealth fund

The investment will be used to expand to more fruits and vegetables and open its first centre in Qatar in 2023

UAE to invest $2bn in India’s ‘food parks’

Why Abu Dhabi conglomerate Yas Holdings’ Elite Agro is focused on food for the future

With food security gaining increased focus during the pandemic, the UAE is focusing on the adoption of new technologies to yield greater results, say Elite Agro Division’s executive director and board member Dr Abdulmonem Almarzooqi and its CEO Ian Summerfield

Healthy prospects: Why Emirati entrepreneur Mahmoud Bartawi is launching a new startup

UAE-based startup Mealzap is on a mission to reach all those embarking on the journey towards a healthier lifestyle, says its CEO and co-founder Mahmoud Bartawi