Support System

I would try to explain myself once or twice, but if they choose not to listen – I am happy to let them move on with their judgement, gladly accepting myself to be comfortable in my skin.

We, humans, are unique. Everyone has their whims and fancies. Not to judge here, but if you are comfortable, be satisfied with your set. My friends, or called family in Dubai, have always been the solid SUPPORT SYSTEM I could count on. They have always been there for me, from cheering on my big days to even sulking with me on the bad ones. To add some extra spotlight to my family and friends back home, you have been there for me throughout – those video calls do some magic, after all.

Thanking everyone in the professional space, my BNC team and the industry professionals who have known me since I started my journey; thank you!

This feature will cover my first-ever LNME Forum 2023, which I hosted last month, with some fantastic people sharing their insights, highlighting big industry hits and great conversations. And, of course, we are getting ready to go to Riyadh next month in May 2023, for something exciting! For more information, keep reading this space (online).

My parents have emphasised the value of surrounding myself with the 'right' people ever since childhood. At first, I assumed it was just so I wouldn't fall for the ruses, but with time, I realised that these individuals or rather 'your friends,' become an integral part of your life.

Over time, I have learnt to choose my set of people. Moreover, I have started letting go of people who still matter to me but who do not count on me. And thus, sometimes, you need to give up and move on. I have begun to let not people affect me. Given a chance,

Vibha Mehta Editor-in-Chief vibha@bncpublishing.net

Vibha Mehta vibhamehta01 @vibhamehta01

Everything You Want To Know About The Ninth Retail Leaders Circle Mena Summit In Riyadh

The Ninth Retail Leaders Circle MENA Conference lasted two days and was held in Riyadh on March 7 and 8, 2023. It was concluded after two days of open discussions on how the industry may grow in the future and better fulfil the changing demands of the region’s customers.

Strategic partners for the occasion were Cenomi Group and Saudi Payments. TikTok, Chahoub Group and Channels by STC were platinum partners.

Opening keynote speaker H.E. Eng Ammar Nagadi, Vice Minister of Economy & Planning, set the tone for the event – and laid out the Ministry’s strategic priorities for the sector. The Vice Minister put forth the Ministry’s expansion, modernisation and optimisation goal and said, “Our aim is to lead in the sector. To help shape the future of retail by harnessing the enormous potential of merging technologies and the retail metaverse. To transform Saudi into a regional hub for e-commerce, delivering on the promise of the digital ecosystem through state-of-the-art logistics.”

The first day’s discussions centred on how the retail industry might most effectively use technology, especially immersive features like augmented reality, in their business strategies. The panels also addressed the impact of retail on other economic development sectors like tourism, entertainment, and new hotspots for a particular lifestyle. The heads of some of the most prominent retail organisations in the region participated in an unprecedented roundtable at the closing session.

Patrick Chalhoub Group, President of the Chalhoub Group; John Hadden, CEO of the Alshaya Group; Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman of the Landmark Group and Mohamad Mourad, CEO and Managing Director of Cenomi Group gathered to talk about how the industry should work together both within and with the government to promote change.

On the second day of the summit, they concentrated on how other industries, including tourism and emerging lifestyle destinations, might affect retail. Speakers also addressed the changing dynamics and increasing capabilities of the payments markets, as cash transactions fall below 50 per cent of total retail spend. The expanding Saudi fashion industry and the rise of intriguing homegrown labels were also on the agenda.

The event included an interactive hybrid room where partners, including Cenomi Group, Saud Payments, Visa, TikTok, Snap and the 100 Saudi Brands Initiative, exhibited their latest innovations and ambitions for the area.

“The Ninth Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit has been an enormous success, bringing together the sector leaders and industry pioneers and emphasising the centrality of the Saudi Arabian market to the regional retail ecosystem,” added Panos Linardos, Chairman of the Retail Leaders Circle. “The level of attendance and the quality of the conversation was extraordinary. The Retail Leaders Circle remains passionate about facilitating ongoing engagement and strategic collaboration to drive positive change in this vital sector.”

DELIVEROO AND DELIVERECT DISCUSS LATEST TECHNOLOGY TRENDS TO EMPOWER THE F&B INDUSTRY

Deliveroo and Deliverect hosted a panel discussion with Seham AlHusaini, General Manager of Deliveroo, Naji Haddad, MENA General Manager at Deliverect, and Abdulrahman Al Omar, Managing Partner at Thinnies, as part of their mission to illustrate advancements in the food industry and support regional restaurants.

The speakers spoke about the critical role technology plays in assisting local restaurants to optimise their delivery operations, maximise profitability in the delivery-only model, maintain customer loyalty in the digital food space, and predict food trends for 2023 during the course of the event.

Naji Haddad, MENA General Manager at Deliverect, said, “Now more than ever, restaurants are realising technology’s integral role in the food industry. We saw it before the pandemic when online delivery started increasing, and then the pandemic accelerated it tenfold. Most restaurants started adopting delivery, online ordering, and digital menus. While technology has already improved several aspects of the restaurant industry, much more must be done. The future of food is digital, and technology will continue to be a key driver in achieving growth, profitability, and improving customer experience.”

Deliveroo supports thousands of restaurant partners and hundreds of thousands of consumers thanks to its dedication to improving its technology tools. By anticipating demand, optimising delivery, and enabling testing, analysis, and continuous improvement, Deliveroo’s technology aids partners in streamlining operations, managing companies more effectively, and offering a fantastic customer experience.

Seham AlHusaini, General Manager of Deliveroo, added, “As leaders in the food technology space, Deliveroo is proud to have spearheaded a variety of tools that have made life that much easier for restaurants, customers, and riders. With years of experience in the regional and international food industry, Deliveroo has long been at the forefront of digital food delivery, recognising food trends and paving new strategies to keep customers engaged. We look forward to surprising and inspiring customers to keep trying new foods while continuing to work with riders and res- taurant partners that make Kuwait such an outstanding food hub.”

Deliverect is the backbone of digital food and aids businesses in connecting with their customers through online commerce. Deliverect has accomplished several milestones, including processing over 250 million orders, having a failure rate of less than 2%, and collaborating with more than 700 trustworthy online integration partners in more than 32,000 locations worldwide.