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Fruitful thinking
Fruitful Day managing director Marie-Christine Luijckx explains her company's bid to bring healthy eating to Dubai's offices, one fruit box at a time
McDonald’s ‘Chef Crafted Flavors’: BK’s Black Burger
Now that the all-day breakfast menu it has been testing is about to go national, McDonald’s San Diego County, Calif., co-op is testing three new customizable sandwiches. The initiative is labeled “Chef Crafted Flavors.”
McDonald's investor wants it to cut antibiotics in all meats
Amman, Jordan--September 2015: Total Jordan has entered a new partnership with Starbucks to offer a variety of its beverages at its service stations operating across Jordan.
Smoothie King plans 45 new outlets in MENA
With more than 700 locations worldwide and plans to top 1000 locations globally by the end of 2017, Smoothie King will be expanding into the Middle East with Al Ghurair Retail, beginning with multiple locations in Dubai.
Dubai museum dedicated to history of coffee
Where can you go to get a hit of culture along with your caffeine? Try the new museum in Dubai’s heritage district, Al Fahidi, where visitors can learn about coffee's role through history. Coffee has been a part of Middle-Eastern heritage almost since mankind first discovered the bean's stimulating properties, and in the United Arab Emirates, the average resident consumes
Starbucks partners with media giant for mobile news offering
McDonald’s: Minion toys aren’t swearing
Seattle – Starbucks Corp, is partnering with one of the world’s best-known media brands to provide an elevated news experience for users of its mobile app. As part of an expanded agreement with the New York Times, top news of the day as well as a selection of other articles, will be available for free via the Starbucks mobile app for My Starbucks Rewards loyalty members.
Some customers have complained about the talking Happy Meal toys
A "Minion" toy in New York, distributed in McDonald's restaurant's Happy Meals. The company says the talking toy is speaking only nonsense words and not something a little more adult. Experts say McDonald's may be right,,,,,
Survey fails to shake up McDonald’s plans in the UAE
McDonald’s UAE has yet again refused to shake-up its menu by reintroducing milkshakes – despite a whopping three quarters of consumers in the country calling for the sweet treat to be brought back.
Five Guys opens in UAE
Cult US burger brand plans expansion
It’s burger time again. Bet you didn’t think there were any more cult burger joints left to import to the UAE, right? Wrong. Sunday saw the opening of Five Guys, originally from Virginia but now spread throughout the US thanks to its utter simplicity: Red-and-white decor,,,,,,
Al Masah Capital’s F&B unit buys Johnny Rockets franchisee
The private equity firm acquired Al Faris Restaurant, which operates the Johnny Rockets franchise in the UAE and Oman.
Diamond Lifestyle Limited, the food and beverage private equity unit of Al Masah Capital has acquired the UAE-based Al Faris Restaurant for an undisclosed sum.
Shawarmanji reveals expansion plans
With an aim to set up more outlets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Lebanese concept Shawarmanji has revealed its expansion plans for the UAE.
McDonald's: Make it simpler, but add choices
McDonald's wants to simplify, simplify, simplify - but also add a bunch of choices for customers to avoid growing stale.
CEO Steve Easterbrook said Monday that he will strip away the bureaucracy at McDonald's so the company can move more nimbly to keep up with changing tastes.
HBI offer food lovers deals on meals
Shamiana, Santino’s, Sugoi!, Magic Wok and Sala Thai outlets across GCC region
Hotbrands International (HBI) brings mouth-watering promotions offering authentic, value-for-money dishes to discerning food lovers in the region.
McDonalds say no sign of milkshakes flowing back into UAE
McDonald’s UAE will not be re-introducing milkshakes to its menus – despite the pleas of 7DAYS readers.
In countries such as the UK – where McDonald’s said it sold more than 116 million milkshakes in 2014 – the sweet treat is a popular choice for fans of the fast-food chain.
McDonald's launches Burger in 1955 for a limited period
أعلنت شركة رضا للخدمات الغذائية المحدودة، صاحبة الامتياز الحصري لسلسلة مطاعم «ماكدونالدز» بالمنطقة الغربية والجنوبية بالمملكة، عن إطلاق برجر 1955 الكلاسيكي كإضافة مميزة إلى قائمة منتجاتها عالية الجودة،
McDonald's launches Burger in 1955 for a limited period Reza Food Services Company Limited announced, the concessionaire exclusive restaurant chain «McDonald's» Western Region and South Kingdom
PizzaExpress takes charge of UAE franchise operation as it plans expansion
PizzaExpress, the UK-based chain, has taken control of its franchise operation in the UAE in its bid to expand in the region.
At the moment, the pizzeria has six outlets across the country and will open a seventh this summer in Abu Dhabi’s World Trade Centre Mall.
Burger bars struggle for UAE supremacy as competition heats up
The burger-bar boom in the UAE is continuing unchecked – but some restaurateurs warn the industry has already grown too flabby.
Streets such as Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai are lined with burger joints, including the fast-food giants McDonald’s, Burger King and Hardee’s and their pricier rivals Fuddruckers, Fatburger,
JF Street Food launches ‘Shawurger’ for limited period
UAE-based fast casual restaurant JF Street Food continues to redefine street food with the addition of an all-new dish to their menu, the ‘Shawurger’, for a limited period only – until June 15 – at its Dubai Marina branch.
McDonald’s revamps leadership into four units to boost sales
The company also will shift more restaurants to independent owners, cut costs and return cash to shareholders
New York: McDonald’s Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook is restructuring the restaurant chain into four segments,,,,
The Abraaj Group and TPG invest in leading Saudi restaurant group, Kudu
SAUDI ARABIA. The Abraaj Group (“Abraaj” or “the Group”), a leading investor operating in global growth markets, and TPG, a leading global private investment firm, today announced the completion of an investment into Kudu, a Saudi Arabian restaurant group with multiple sites and brands across the country.
American fast casual diner Chickenow Premiere opens in Dubai
Casual dining concept Chickenow Premiere has opened its gastronomic doors for the very first time in the UAE. It’s an independent expansion venture by American eatery Chickenow in partnership with Dubai-based Magnolia Restaurant Management (MRM) Investments.
Burger Hood now in Dubai
Home-grown gourmet burger concept Burger Hood has entered Dubai with an outlet in Jumeirah 1 following a successful launch at Al Muroor in Abu Dhabi exactly two years ago. Inspired by classic American diners, Burger Hood is owned by Saif Aldhaheri, the Emirati partner, and developed by Glee Hospitality Solutions.
Why Shake Shack and BurgerFuel are the UAE’s top premium burger joints
A burger may just consist of a bun, salad and slab of meat – but how it goes down with consumers depends on much more than that, according to a retail consultancy
McDonald's gives all-day breakfast a test try
NEW YORK — A McMuffin for dinner? It might happen, as McDonald's plans to test an all-day breakfast at some locations in the San Diego areastarting next month.
The Gourmet Burger Kitchen experience
Gourmet Burger Kitchen: Home of the upmarket sandwich
With the launch of its new salmon burger, Gourmet Burger Kitchen is really attempting to live up to its name. Aiming to provide a more salubrious experience than its fellow sandwich bars,,,,
The War For Talent: The Ugly Side Of UAE’s Healthcare Boom
With a number of hospitals and clinics starting up in the GCC, the war for medical talent has begun.
A booming population, a surge in lifestyle diseases and massive healthcare budgets have driven up demand for hospitals in the Gulf region.
Do you want fries with that? Big Mac sauce for $23,100 please
Sydney: Fast-food giant McDonald’s is giving Australians the opportunity to buy a bottle of the special sauce used on their famous Big Mac — the only problem is it will cost at least Aus$23,100 (Dh65,018).
Pie Face to open its second outlet in the UAE
International pie chain Pie Face will open its second store in the UAE this month, at Dubai Marina Walk.
The Australian brand, which debuted in Abu Dhabi in November, has been brought to the region by Foodmark, the food and beverage division of the Landmark Group.
The firm had signed an agreement to open 100 outlets of the Australian eatery Pie Face across the Gulf.
McDonald’s Bahrain improves customer service experience with Silah
McDonald’s Bahrain has selected Silah Gulf (Silah), contact centre and customer experience solutions company, as its contact centre service provider. Silah has started providing a dedicated team of well-trained, multi-lingual customer service experts to deliver service excellence to McDonald’s customers.
Free breakfast for UAE residents on March 9
Dubai: Hundreds of UAE residents will be treated to free breakfast on March 9, 2015, when a giant restaurant chain celebrates its annual National Breakfast Day.
From 6am to 10am on Monday next week, each of the 73 participating McDonald’s outlets throughout the country will be serving up to 1,000 free Egg McMuffins on a first come, first served basis, the company said in a statement.
Pret To Go set to expand
Dubai-based fresh food concept for those on-the-go Pret To Go is planning to set up four additional outlets across the emirate, including Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA), Dubai Media City (DMC) and Downtown Jebel Ali – Galleries Building 1.
With more than 700 locations worldwide and plans to top 1000 locations globally by the end of 2017, Smoothie King will be expanding into the Middle East with Al Ghurair Retail, beginning with multiple locations in Dubai.
McDonald’s ‘Chef Crafted Flavors’: BK’s Black Burger
California – Now that the all-day breakfast menu it has been testing is about to go national, McDonald’s San Diego County, Calif., co-op is testing three new customizable sandwiches. The initiative is labeled “Chef Crafted Flavors.”
Sweets & Snacks Middle East 2015 is 25% larger
Dubai – With spends of US $38 and $31 per capita respectively, the UAE and Saudi Arabia outstrip the US $4 spend per capita average across the Middle East and Africa.
According to KPMG, regional demand continues to grow with confectionary sales across the GCC forecast to increase 20% this year
Max's to roll out Yellow Cab in UAE
MANILA – Max's Group Inc. will be expanding its pizza brand Yellow Cab Pizza Co. to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Max's Group said it recently signed a development agreement with Middle East-based Cartoon Fashion Group to open 10 Yellow Cab Pizza stores in the UAE within the next five years. Yellow
Starbucks shows perky performance in Q3
Seattle – Starbucks Corp. reported impressive financial performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 that could be described as downright perky. Net income jumped 22% to $626.7 million from $512.6 million the same quarter a year earlier, with higher pretax earnings offsetting higher income tax charges to produce profit growth.
Dunkin’ Donuts seeks gold with California expansion
Canton, Mass. – “California, I’ll be knocking on the golden door.” Dunkin’ Donuts executives may find themselves singing these words from the Grateful Dead classic “Estimated Prophet” as the coffee retailer pursues a massive expansion strategy in the most populated U.S. state.
Cold Stone to heat up subcontinent ice cream market
Scottsdale, Ariz. - Cold Stone Creamery is planning to heat up the ice cream market in the Indian subcontinent. The retailer is entering India and Sri Lanka.
Healthy iftar option: fat-free fast food
End the fast with burger Hood's Zero Fat burger for a guilt-free evening
Abu Dhabi/Dubai: It’s that time of year once again when, with the advent of Ramadan, the focus falls on healthy eating.
McDonald's adds former Obama adviser to executive team
McDonald's has named former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs as its global chief communications officer, as the fast-food giant looks to improve its image.
The world's biggest hamburger chain said Tuesday that Gibbs will manage the company's communications and government affairs and help to improve its well-known brand.
Burger Hood supporting Dubai Cares during Ramadan
Gourmet burger concept Burger Hood has installed a special charity box at its Dubai outlet on June 11 that will be in place till the end of the holy month, coinciding with its charitable initiatives during Ramadan.
Domino’s Pizza now taking orders via tweet — with pizza emoji
Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Domino's Pizza is debuting a new ordering option that combines two new-to-the-world innovations — ordering via tweet and ordering via emoji, specifically the pizza emoji. The ordering platforms launched on Wednesday throughout the United States.
McDonald's to simplify structure, focus on customers
McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook says he's stripping away layers of bureaucracy and increasing accountability so the company can move more nimbly to keep up with changing tastes.
During a 23-minute video message posted online Monday,,,
US burger wants to become a habit for local foodies
Deal represents the first overseas agreement for Habit Burger Grill
Dubai: When it comes to burgers, there is always space on the UAE consumer’s table for a new one. The Habit Burger Grill of the US has picked out the UAE — and some of the other Gulf markets — ,,,,
Yum Brands China operations pique analyst interest
‘I am tempted to say KFC’s best days in China are probably behind them’
Analysts last week descended on Yum Brands in Shanghai with a volley of tough questions after billionaire investor Dan Loeb suggested the US fast-food chain consider hiving off its Chinese operations.
US restaurant chain Five Guys to make Middle East debut
US-based restaurant chain Five Guys has announced that it will make its Middle East debut this month with an outlet opening in The Dubai Mall.
The restaurant brand, which specialises in halal burgers and hotdogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, veggie sandwiches, free toppings,
PizzaExpress acquires UAE franchise amid expansion push
Italian-inspired dining brand PizzaExpress has acquired its UAE franchise operation from operator Jordana Restaurants, it announced on Sunday.
The acquisition is part of ambitious international expansion plans as PizzaExpress celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and prepares to double the number of UAE outlets in the next five years, the company said.
ENOC to open 60 Paavo’s Pizza outlets in the region
UAE-based ENOC retail, the master franchisee of Paavo’s Pizza for the Middle East, has opened six stores across Dubai – Al Qusais, Al Warqa’a, Jumeirah, Nadd Al Hammar, Mushrif and Tecom, with three more set to open by the end of 2015. ENOC also has an aggressive expansion plan to open 60 outlets across the GCC, in the next five years.
Pizza Express acquires UAE franchise
Aims to double number of stores in the Middle East by 2020
Dubai: Pizza Express said on Sunday that it has acquired its UAE franchise operation and aims to double the number of stores in the Middle East by 2020.
Freedom Pizza debuts in the UAE
Former owners of NKD Pizza franchise already have five stores operational in Dubai
Dubai: The original owners of NKD Pizza in the UAE have launched Freedom Pizza after ending their franchise agreement for the fast-food brand, according to a statement on Sunday.
Bahrain retailer Jawad said to raise $235m loan
Bahrain's Jawad Business Group, the franchise operator of clothing brand Mango and restaurant chains Papa Johns and Burger King in the Gulf, has raised a $235 million loan to refinance existing debt, two banking sources aware of the matter said.
Revealed: Nations that spend most time in cooking
Indians spend the highest time in the world cooking meals, which is four times higher than their Asian compatriot South Korean – who spend the least.
Indians on average spend 13.2 hours per week on cooking compared to 3.7 hours by South Koreans, says the survey.
McDonald's in Germany aims for makeover with table service
McDonald's plans to introduce table service in Germany. It wants to do that at least in some locations in a bid to halt sliding sales by going slightly upscale relative to its present style.
‘Healthy restaurant’ initiative to fight child obesity in UAE
Dubai: With child obesity reaching alarming proportions in the UAE — nearly 40 per cent of children in the UAE are either obese or overweight — the Ministry of Health has intensified its efforts to tackle the problem by announcing the launch of their latest health initiative called ‘Healthy Restaurant’ in April.
First ever McDonald’s store to open in UAE gets a facelift as business continues to grow
“Would you like fries with that?” It’s been more than 20 years since that question was asked at the first McDonald’s ever launched in the UAE, back in 1994.
The fast-food giant now has 128 stores across the country. McDonald’s recently refurbished that very first store,,,,
Gluten-free pizza to be on offer at Pizza Hut restaurants in the US
Embracing the latest food trend, American restaurant chain Pizza Hut will soon start offering gluten-free pizza in the US. Starting January 26, customers at some Pizza Hut restaurants will be able to order 10-inch cheese and pepperoni gluten-free pizzas.
Habit Burger Grill to come to the UAE
Amid rising demand for fast-casual food outlets, California-based Habit Restaurants has signed its first international franchise agreement with the Dubai-based Food Quest Restaurant Management to open 50 Habit Burger Grill restaurants in the next 10 years.
McDonald’s tries to get a proper fix on its menus
Washington: McDonald’s is having some Big Mac-sized problems as it finds its image and menu are poorly suited for consumers’ increasing preference for fresh, healthy ingredients.
The restaurant chain said last week its global profit tumbled 21 per cent in the most recent quarter......
Malaysia’s Foodpanda buys UAE online food delivery company
Dubai: Foodpanda, a Malaysia-based online food delivery business, has bought UAE online food delivery company 24h.ae in a bid to capture a bigger slice of the Middle East’s food delivery market, according to a statement on Wednesday.
McDonald’s seeks its fast-food soul, trying to appeal to finicky eaters
NEW YORK: McDonald's is having an identity crisis. For years, it has lurched from showcasing new items — salads! Egg White Delight McMuffins! sliced apples! — to mining nostalgia for its basic Big Macs and fries. Its core customers still line up at the drive-through window for cheap,.....
Vegetarianism a growing trend: 7 kinds of vegetarians you may encounter at a restaurant
Is it any wonder then that our vegetarian compatriots are getting a tad spoilt — even as the non-vegetarians scurry for cover, hounded? With cornmeal perhaps getting to be more in demand than corn-fed chicken, it's never been trendier — or more virtuous be a "foodie" vegetarian in India now; don't carve that steak, yet!