Global Experience, Local Relevance

We Understand The
Culture
Cuisine
Challenges
Customs
Consumer
Competition

Middle East Restaurant Consultants

We work with clients in the MENA region to modernize businesses across functional areas, institutionalize best practices, drive revenue, optimize cost and quality, improve the workforce’s competencies and capabilities, enable higher productivity, provide new insights and systems for performance measurement and management, enhance the guest experience, and maximize shareholder and enterprise value.

Select Prior Engagement Highlights

Saudi Chain Performance Enhancement

• Served as an outsourced COO/CMO for multi-brand, Saudi-based foodservice and catering operation
• Created new concepts and business lines
• Improved speed and quality of service 3x
• Increased revenue more than 100%, doubling each location’s profits
• Reduced food costs to 20-year lows while still growing sales and guest satisfaction scores, contributing millions in increased profitability

MENA Brand Audit

• Performed a complete audit of F&B brands owned and operated by a premier lifestyle retail company with $8b+ in total retail and F&B sales
• Tied operational KPIs (brand- and unit-level) to macroeconomic conditions across all GCC operations
• Developed fast-acting countermeasures for sales declines
• Built long-range roadmap for organizational redesign, technology infrastructure, MBO, and ground-up marketing systems

Kuwaiti Brand & Marketing Audits

• Conducted full brand audit for one of the largest foodservice operators in Kuwait, boasting 200+ locations and $200m+ in revenue
• Developed comprehensive strategy related to the marketing function across different channels, from brand story, experience design, web and digital marketing, and loyalty and CRM systems to management by objectives, associate engagement and enculturation, and internal communication

Concept Development for Royal Family Member

• Worked with a member of a prominent royal family interested in creating a new fast-casual concept capitalizing on consumer demand for more healthful options
• Researched and assembled a comprehensive market, industry, and category landscape report
• Planned and led strategy sessions with HRH
• Created a concept-development blueprint

The challenges presented by managing regional supply chains, complying with customs and labor laws, and developing marketing frameworks, systems, modules, strategies and tactics designed to resonate with regional cultures and audiences are all complications added to an already complex business model and industry.

As the MENA market evolves from emerging to established, competition is becoming more sophisticated and margins are shrinking. Many operators are struggling to understand and operate in this “new normal.”

Over the course of our engagements, we formulate actionable recommendations and implement sustainable strategies that address these driving questions.​
How will consumer dining behavior and consumption patterns evolve in the next five years?What trends will become more and less important to the organization?How do we spot and capitalize on what’s new and next before our competitors?What technologies can we expect to emerge and how can we leverage them to our advantage?
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As the MENA market matures, it offers the operators who weather this transition stable margins and a bright future. To survive, they need to offer guests memorable and moving experiences that no competitor can imitate. The drive for this perfection of purpose is a process of iterative refinement, and it holds immense promise: operators who capitalize on the opportunities can effect change within their organizations and the region as a whole.
How Foodservice Leaders Can Adapt to — and Thrive in — the Middle East’s New NormalLearn MoreOpportunities and Challenges Facing Middle East Restaurant OperatorsLearn MoreArabic Hospitality Can Solve Saudi Arabia’s Unemployment CrisisLearn MoreRestaurant Margins are Shrinking in the Middle East. Here’s How to Respond.Learn MoreInsights from a Decade of Experience in the Middle East Restaurant IndustryLearn More
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How may we serve you?

Our experience in the Middle East is deep, and it sets us apart from most other consultancies. With broad experience and a specialized focus in foodservice, we bring a global and local perspective to strategy and planning that few other consultancies in the world can.

General Inquiries

North America

Chicago, Illinois 60601

+1-312-701-3500 (U.S. Local)