The (FFCC) Fast Food & Cafe Convention was launched in 2017 with an ambitious vision to create a platform and community for all stakeholders in the QSR, Cafe, Cloud Kitchen, Casual Dining and Restaurant industry, which we are excited to say, has gradually become a reality. We have grown from a small exhibition and conference to one that now brings together over 1000 key F&B professionals and service providers.
The event has grown over the last 6 editions in India and 1 in the UAE and we are overwhelmed by the staggering support from the industry. Luckily for us, veterans and burgeoning business alike in the industry have lent their support, knowledge and industry know-how for us to be able to put together an event that promises in-depth discussions, a genuine sense of community and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Fast Food & Café Convention 2022 – Dubai took place at the Conrad, Dubai, on the 2nd of November 2022, housing over 30 Exhibitors & Partners representing some of the F&B industry’s more interesting technology, ingredients and equipments. The show also featured 300+ brands, 613 attendees & 42 speakers. Based on the gracious feedback of our partners, speakers and attendees alike – the event was a triumph!
Here is a Quick Outline of the Day
Naim Maadad, CEO Gates Hospitality
Fast Food & Café Convention 2022 – Dubai started off with a welcome speech from its organisers who then brought to the stage the event Chairman who needs no introduction: Naim Maadad – the CEO of Gates Hospitality who delivered a warm and heartfelt welcome to all present and gave us an outline of the day’s schedule.
Mr Mubarak Bin Fahad, Chairman, UAE Restaurants Group
Mubarak Bin Fahad, Chairman, UAE Restaurants Group delivered a keynote speech stressing the importance of events like the FFCC, which provides a prime opportunity to bring together leaders in F&B to discuss and learn from challenges and successes.
Although the exhibition area was abuzz with meetings and conversation, the conference kicked off with its first session for the day, with a packed audience and featuring industry stalwarts for the panel discussion on “Creating a Commercially Viable Model for a Business that can Travel the World”. Moderated by Naim Maadad, CEO of Gates Hospitality and featuring a star-studded panel – Andy Holman, Advisor to the Board & CEO, eathos George Kunnappally, MD Nando’s, Melhem Hamdan, Chief Investment Officer, Al Bidayer Holding, Nader Bassit, CEO Wakira Investments, Sherif M. El Sherif , MD Olayan Food Division and Tapan Vaidya, CEO @PJP Investments.
“Creating a Commercially Viable Model for a Business that can Travel the World”
The second session was brought to us by our Title partner Deliverect and Naji Haddad General Manager – Middle East at Deliverect along with Mubarak Jaffar Co-Founder & CEO KLC Virtual Restaurants– who presented a case study on – “How to Create and Scale Brands that Matter.”
“How to Create and Scale Brands that matter.”
Next session was expertly moderated by George Kunnappally, MD, Nando’s on the topic of “Paving the Way for a Seamless Customer Experience in Cloud Kitchens”. The panel featured Badih Hachem, Vice President Contact Center, Kitopi, Mike Hardie Consultant, Ex – CEO AJ Kitchens, Mubarak Jaffar Co-Founder & CEO KLC Virtual Restaurants, Naji Haddad General Manager – Middle East Deliverect and Peter Schatzberg, Founder & Shareholder Epik Foods.
“Paving the Way for a Seamless Customer Experience in Cloud Kitchens”
The powered by Partner Foodics brought us the next presentation – “The restaurant management ecosystem” presented by Amel Mabrouk Foodics UAE Country Manager.
Amel Mabrouk Foodics UAE Country Manager.
Followed by “Finding the Right Franchise Partner and The Sambazon Difference” presented by Ryan Black Co-Founder & CEO SAMBAZON.
Ryan Black Co-Founder & CEO Sambazon
Charles Clements, Director of Innovation & Growth at @Keane Brands moderated our next super star panel discussion taking about “Pillars of the Business: Fostering the Industry in Service of Employees” The panel featured Elias Madbak, MBA MD RMAL Hospitality, Hesham Almekkawi CEO Tim Hortons – Middle East , Shobhit Tandon COO (International Markets) – Domino’s Pizza, Alamar, Stasha Toncev Chief Soulkitchen Officer 21grams | Urban Balkan Bistro and Steve Delpino COO @Krush Brands.
“Pillars of the Business: Fostering the Industry in Service of Employees.”
Before lunch, we were regaled by Agam Garg’s presentation, the General Manager at Yango Delivery UAE who spoke about “Food Delivery – Finding the Right Balance between Healthy Unit Economics and Customer Service”
“Food Delivery – Finding the Right Balance between Healthy Unit Economics and Customer Service.”
Followed by “Simplifying Operational Efficiency through Digital Transformation” presented by Ehab Sadek VP of Supply Kaso (YC W22).
Ehab Sadek VP of Supply Kaso (YC W22).
We commenced our afternoon sessions starting with yet another VIP infused panel – “AI: Getting Up Close and Personal with Your Customers”, moderated by Akhilesh Bahl Founder & CEO Malt & Salt Hospitality, Arun A V Founder & CEO Skellam AI, Efe Celik Territory Director MEASA Subway and Shajeer Paramabath MD MAYFAIR RESTAURANTS LIMITED LLC. This session was brought to us by Skellam AI Qubriux.
AI: Getting Up Close and Personal with Your Customers
We moved on to the panel brought to us by UrbanPiper: “Role of Technology in Unleashing Efficiencies in the Ever-Challenging Food Delivery Landscape”. Moderated by Keerthana Akshay Shetty Head of partnership acquisition UrbanPiper and deliberated by Amel Mabrouk Foodics UAE Country Manager, Navneet Singh Monga Director, Home Delivery Sales Americana Foods MENA, Renjith Prahladan Deputy General Manager, MENA UrbanPiper and Saif Al-Amid PMI-ACP® Group Product Manager HungerStation | هنقرستيشن.
Role of Technology in Unleashing Efficiencies in the Ever-Challenging Food Delivery Landscape
Yasir Ali Yousuff Channel Manager – Café, Restaurants & Ecommerce Barakat presented the next session on “Winning Customers via Culinary Innovation – New Product Development & Cost-Effective Solutions in the Fresh Food Space”.
“Winning Customers via Culinary Innovation – New Product Development & Cost-Effective Solutions in the Fresh Food Space”.
Closely followed by industry tycoon – Hesham Almekkawi CEO Tim Hortons – Middle East who talked about “The Dynamics of the F&B Industry post-COVID.”
The Dynamics of the F&B Industry post-COVID.
The panel on “How Sustainability and Innovation can contribute to the Growth of your Brand” was brought to us by Al Bayader International featuring Moderator: Gabrielle F. Mather, Founder & CEO, Restaurant Secrets Inc. Panel comprising, Andres Gonzalez , Head of Operations, Pickl, Jamil Haddad Head of Business Development & Sustainability Al Bayader International, Omar Shihab GM & Chief Sustainability Officer BOCA and Shobhit Tandon COO (International Markets) -Domino’s Pizza, Alamar.
How Sustainability and Innovation can contribute to the Growth of your Brand
The last session for the day before the attendees were allowed to loosen their ties a bit at the Cocktail reception was an illuminating panel discussion on “Developing Restaurant Branding through Social Media”. The Panel was moderated by Cheryl Sheppard Partner/CMO TGP International, and the panelists discussing the topic were Amr Gawish Marketing Manager Galadari Food & Beverage Division, Ketaki Shah Head of Marketing Jollibee UAE, Mandeep Sandhu, Marketing Manager Mister Baker, and Sheetal Raghunath, Brand Manager Pickl
“Developing Restaurant Branding through Social Media”.
The exhibition section featured a smorgasbord of F&B industry solutions, tech, innovation, and genius! The show hosted the Title Partner – Deliverect and Powered by Partner – Foodics.
The Platinum partners included: Skellam AI, UrbanPiper , and Al Bayader International. The Shows Beverage Partners were: Red Bull, RANI REFRESHMENTS FZCO, Vimto, and Barbican. The Gold Sponsors present were: Kaso (YC W22), SAMBAZON, Barakat and Yango Delivery UAE .
The show wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Exhibitors – RATIONAL AG, Kerry Da Vinci, Fingermark, Delivr apps, YASHTECH, Wooqer, jalebi.io | جليبى, TevalisME, Alpro, Emirates Snack Foods LLC, Supy, Eighty6 , ATP Zenia , Lyve Global T&S Brass, The Cloud – Food Ecosystem, Intellytics FZ LLC, and TGP International | Creating World-class F&B and Retail Brands .
All in all, the 2nd edition of the Fast Food & Café Convention in Dubai has concluded and hopefully put a smile on all our attendees’ faces, allowed for a genuine networking platform and healthy knowledge share between colleagues and community.
A heartfelt thank you from the team at FFCC to all our partners, moderator, panelists, and attendees for taking the time – for believing in us and the real meaning of our event – that of bringing the F&B community together!
We can’t wait to see you all next year! Stay tuned for more information!
