NEWS BITES

CULINARY NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND BEYOND

JING TEA ARRIVES IN THE UAE

Bidfood UAE, a multi-channel foodservice provider of international F&B brands – part of the Bidcorp Group – will now supply the rarest and most exceptional tea products by JING Tea to the United Arab Emirates. JING Tea was founded to enable people to access the highest quality, distinctive teas and enjoy the most fulfilling tea-drinking experiences. Teas are sourced from single gardens, selected by some of the world’s greatest tastemakers. The brand works with Michelin star restaurants and some of the world’s leading hotels and establishments, and is the first tea brand in the ever-expanding portfolio of Bidfood UAE and Bidfood KSA, with plans to extend its regional partnership in the Sultanate of Oman.

Visit bidfoodme.com and jingtea.com for more information.

A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE

Leading food delivery app in Saudi Arabia, HungerStation, has partnered with Deliverect, a global SaaS company that simplifies online order management for more than 16,000 establishments across 30 markets. Through this partnership, large and small restaurants can eliminate order mistakes while speeding up their order preparations to reduce delivery times. The delivery platform also guarantees that restaurants can manage their operations efficiently.

LOCALE: THE UAE’S LATEST FOOD AGGREGATOR

With an aim to create a safe space for local ‘foodpreneurs’ and provide a sustainable food delivery eco-system, Locale (a KRUSH Brands company) joins the UAE food aggregator market. Partnering with Abu Dhabi and Dubai-based brands, Locale emphasizes the significance of good food, and thus, will seamlessly reach and keep more customers, improve margins, and increase revenue streams for the brands. Locale is committed to helping restaurants and food brands become more resilient by fully owning their customer relationship with proprietary technology and delivery science, seamlessly integrated with brand and operations. Through Locale’s user-friendly app, customers can order from seven brands including Freedom Pizza, Coco Yogo, Salad Jar, Wildflower, Parlor and more that residents love; with the option to combine multiple products from various brands in one order.

Download Locale on App Store and Google Play.

GROWING DEMAND FOR F&B TRADE IN THE UAE

Food and beverage trade in the UAE reached over $20 billion in the first nine months of 2021, supported by expanded efforts to enhance food security and diversify food imports, according to a new analysis from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Imports accounted for the largest share of the UAE’s F&B trade during January to September 2021 ($12.8 billion), followed by exports ($4.1 billion) and re-exports ($3.3 billion). The analysis identified India as the UAE’s top F&B trading partner during the first nine months, as the country accounted for 12% of the Gulf country’s total F&B trade value, followed by the US (7%) Brazil (6%) Australia (5%), Canada (5%) and Saudi Arabia (5%). Imported fruits and nuts accounted for the largest proportion of the UAE’s imports of food and beverages (13%), trailed by meat (11%), dairy products (10%) and oilseeds (7%).