Get to know our Advisors!

The (FFCC) Fast Food & Cafe Convention is gearing up for its 2nd Edition in Dubai on the 2nd of November at the Conrad and we took this opportunity to have a quick chat with our expert advisory committee to get to know them better!

We asked Mr. Mohammad Al Madani a varied set of questions and here’s what he had to say:

Q: What are your thoughts on the budding tech aspect of the F&B Industry?

F&B has no choice except to adopt to the high-tech demand of the new generation consumer, such as producing artificial proteins,3D food printing which allows for personalized, precise and reproducible nutrition. Natural machines like ‘Foodini’ promotes cooking with fresh ingredients. Food robotics improve quality, increase outputs and reduce expenses. Many companies employ robotics to advance product consistency and overall efficiency. Personalized nutrition is the next big growth opportunity in F&B industry. Restaurants have already incorporated technology such as online ordering, electronic payments and order pickup and loyalty digital applications. Restaurants that do not adapt to new tech will be losing a big share of the market.

Q: Your main pointers for young entrepreneurs looking to enter the industry?

• Identify the gap or vacuum in the market and fill it up.
• Find your passion with what you select, you must love what you do.
• Start small and allow yourself to grow organically.
• Consider a franchise concept with a successful track record.
• Do your research and business plan and explore the core competencies of your concept.
• Determine the capabilities and resources required.
• Project financial dimensions and secure investment prior to commitment.
• You must be involved in the business, don’t leave it to others to do it for you, but, that does not mean that you don’t hire the right people to do the right job.

Q: What has the pandemic taught the F&B industry in your opinion?

• Always be prepared for a contingency, a plan B.
• Digital application and online ordering proved to be a necessity during the pandemic.
• Control Food Cost and optimize your work force to cut cost, work with minimum crew, and with efficiency.
• Negotiate with landlords on rentals, as the balance of power has shifted toward tenants.
• The use of contactless payment methods is a must for F&B now, to improve the sales and traffic to your store.

Q: What are some of the most important sustainability practices at the Al Madani group?

• Control of Food Cost, and Inventory.
• Maintain gross profit.
• Ensure continuation of food quality.
• We Eliminated promotions and discounts especially with the aggregators, since it was eating into our profits.
• Reduce the manpower to the minimum required to run the operation.?
• Reduce the corporate expenses by shrinking the size of the headquarters. (Be Lean but not Mean)

Q: How would you rate the importance of community in the F&B industry in ME? Where is there room for improvement?

I see lot of room for improvement in this sector which is currently very low, At Almadani group, we have a program of supporting Down Syndrome Association in Dubai over the past decade and also, we contribute part of our sales to Al Jalila Foundation.

Q: Could you make a prediction on where the industry is headed in the next 12-18 months?

• UAE economy and particularly Dubai has rebounded in 2022, with increased tourism and hospitality sector after the Expo 2020 in October 2021, which contributed in turning around Dubai’s economy.? Forecasted GDP growth rate of 5.4% in 2022 as estimated by UAE Central Bank. FDI rose by 4% to US$ 20.6 Billion?
• Population growth and tourism set to continue to drive demand, the Food market is expected to grow at CAGR of 3.42% annually from 2021-2026 as per DET, 7.12 M visitors in first half of 2022. Consumer spending rose by 78% above average monthly figure since October 2021 according to MAF.

Q: What is a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

• Don’t copy and paste businesses, be innovative and work out of the box, research and do your homework very well before jumping into a project.
• You need to sweat from hard and smart working, learn the lessons from your mistakes, don’t give up on the first failure.
• Plan, Plan and Execute your plan.
• Set up your goals and objectives and revise them as per new changes.

Q: What is your all-time favourite book?

Built to Last by Jim Collins

Q: What are three important things you have learned about the F&B industry that you will carry with you?

• Set up your goals and objectives annually and monitor the KPI and performance frequently.
• Adapt to the new norms of business (Pandemic). Be Flexible.
• Stick to your principles of high integrity in running your business.

Q: Who is a historic figure you would like to have a meal with? What would you discuss with them?

H.H Shaikh Mohammad Ben Rashid Al Maktoum, and discuss with him some of the rules and regulations to be incorporated in the real Estate business that are based on Win-Win concepts, between the tenants and landlords.

Join us at the?Fast Food & Cafe Convention?, scheduled to take place at the?Conrad Dubai?on the 2nd of November. The event will bring together over 500 Delegates, 35 speakers, 250 brands and 30 Exhibitors. Download the event brochure?here.