REVEALED: F&B suppliers you should know
From new-to-market entrepreneurs and niche enterprises through to established names and turn-key solution providers, the September issue of Hotelier Middle East presents exclusive interviews with 50 of the hotel supply-side companies playing an essential role in the future growth and prosperity of the Middle East hospitality industry. Here, we present 22 of these companies that all offer services relevant to F&B professionals, from furniture and tableware through to ovens and ingredients....
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A. RONAI LLC
A. Ronai LLC is an all-round hospitality and catering solutions company offering a wide variety of table-top crockery, cutlery, glassware, lighting and kitchen equipment. The company also offers a full range of uniforms for both front and back of house with bespoke options available from its in-house design and production team.
A. Ronai began operations in the UK in 1947, and A. Ronai LLC was set up in the UAE in 2005 and currently employs more than 70 people. In 2013, several of A. Ronai’s supply partners launched new products, including a new Craft ‘country inspired’ range in a variety of colours from Steelite.
Another supply partner, Genware, has also developed its more decorative items with salt and pepper shakers, jars, blackboards and a whole host of restaurant and cafe essentials.
A. Ronai is currently developing its online and direct marketing services to improve communication with its clients and ensure they receive the most up to date, relevant information to suit their needs.
Tel: +971 4 2414 409
Email: enquiries@ronai.ae
Web: www.ronai.ae
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AL-DIYAFA
Cagatay Gurevin, general manager of hospitality supplier Al Diyafa, says the company’s extensive catalogue of brands for the hospitality industry has been a key factor in its success
When was your company established?
Al Diyafa was first established 15 years ago with showrooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the goal to become the largest stockist of hospitality supplies in the UAE. Since its inception, the company has managed to become the leading supplier of hospitality products to hotels, restaurants, cafes , hospitals and educational institutions.
How many people are employed by Al Diyafa?
Together with the back office and warehouse staff, the company employs 21 people. The sales division is the face of Al Diyafa to the outside world as its team of 10, all professionally qualified with extensive hotel backgrounds, assists our client base with an extensive range of products .The company is pursuing its strategy of growth and expansion through the addition of branded products, the training of its sales force and the opening of a large outlet in Abu Dhabi.
How has the company performed?
Al Diyafa enjoys a leading share of the UAE market and widely is considered the one-stop-shop for hotel and restaurant supplies. With growth in 2011 and 2012 in the region of 30% per annum, and given the growth of the hospitality segment and the huge expansion of the two leading airlines and the expected addition of hotel rooms and F&B facilities, we expect to continue to achieve our historical growth rate. With continued additional investment in human resources and physical assets we forecast that Al Diyafa will continue to be the premier supplier of hospitality supplies in the UAE market.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
As of today, Al Diyafa offers about 40 professional brands catering for the hotel industry. For hotel openings, Al Diyafa is in a position to supply virtually all the operating supplies and equipment required for branded hotels including lobby and housekeeping trolleys, outdoor furniture, kitchen utensils, tabletop flatware, hollow ware, chinaware, glassware, janitorial supplies, bed and bath linen, food and beverage linen, kitchen electrical equipment, back of house shelving and storage, thermometers and other HACCP products, chef uniforms, shoes and banqueting tables etc.
Our partner brands are well reputed manufacturers and include Paderno, Abert, Pintinox, Cigolini, Bisetti, Tognana, Fama from Italy, De Buyer, Allafrance, Roland Vlamyunck, Sanipousse from France, Zown and Araven from Spain, Eurobambino and Delbrooks from the UK, Arthur Krupp, Geisser Messer from Germany, Libbey, Calmil, Gourmet Display from the USA, Detay, Kapp, Gural Porsellan, Lava, Tuart from Turkey, Premium Uniforms from Canada, Mercura from Belgium, Tiger from Korea and Venus from India.
Al Diyafa is the only company in the market that supplies ex-stock branded professional supplies for anyone who wants to open a restaurant, coffee shop or F&B outlet at short notice.
What new products have you launched recently?
We have introduced several brands, mainly Mercura from Belgium for lobby and housekeeping trolleys, Roland Vlamyunck for outdoor furniture, Lava for cast iron and Tognana for Chinaware.
What other news is there from your company this year?
We have redecorated our showroom in Dubai by introducing a new display system designed to showcase all the products in stock in a more visible manner to enable buyers to select products as per their needs. We have also implemented a warehouse management system to facilitate and ease our logistics processes to respond rapidly to customers’ needs.
What is your best seller?
Without a doubt, the kitchen utensils range is one of our bestsellers, followed by our large selection of chinaware and other tabletop items.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
We are the only hospitality equipment supplier with a showroom presence in Dubai and Abu Dhabi so that we are close to our customers. Secondly, we can claim with confidence that we can procure from stock all the needs of restaurant and hotel owners. Third and most importantly, we apply the highest ethical standards in our dealing with our customers. We provide good value for money and aim to build a lasting partnership with our clients.
Web: www.aldiyafa.com
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AL-HALABI
Bilal Al Halabi, business development manager of Al Halabi Refrigeration and Kitchen Equipment, explains why the company’s greatest asset is its people, and discusses the development of its 500 product models
When was your company established?
Al-Halabi was first established in Dubai in 1975 by a trio of visionary, industrious entrepreneurs, Salahuddine Al-Halabi, Abdul Kader Al-Halabi and Samer Baradei, who have experience in the manufacturing sector going back to 1950.
Tell us about the growth of the company?
Al-Halabi, which is growing at a rate of 12% per annum for the past 10 years, produces in excess of 500 product models via its 20 high-tech production lines, with clients throughout the world going into a project expecting nothing but the very best, and getting something even better! Our state-of-the-art factory manufactures 70% of Al-Halabi total sales, while 30% are imported from world-class manufacturers in Italy, France, Greece, China and the US.
What’s your company vision?
Al-Halabi is committed to providing turnkey solutions that meet the specific needs of its clients through production of high quality products in accordance with both local and international quality standards.
The company’s vision is to become the global market leader in the supply of high quality industrial kitchen equipment and refrigeration units by increasing its production capacity and further widening its customer-base through continuous upgrading of its production facility. Its mission is to exceed industry standards while delivering the service its customers deserve.
Al-Halabi has infused its culture with the inspirational principles that guide its business operations:
• People: The greatest asset of a company is its people, and this is particularly true at Al-Halabi where its employees are part of an extended family.
• Work: Everyone is equipped with the right skills and everyone has a job to do. The team at Al-Halabi is dedicated to providing value for customers with a range of products that are designed to meet any challenge.
• Together: The owners, management and employees within the company have a shared objective. There is only one Al-Halabi. This is a powerful concept, making the business more efficient, resourceful and competitive.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
With a range and diversity unmatched anywhere else, Al-Halabi manufactures, designs and imports a comprehensive portfolio of stainless steel kitchen equipment and commercial refrigeration units, incorporating 20 production lines and more than 500 models such as: preparations tables; sinks; chillers and freezers; bain-marie, salad bars; barbeque grills; shawarma and chicken grills; ovens; cooking ranges; cabinets; fryers; shelves; hoods; heated cabinets; hot displays and nut warmers; plus a wide range of other high quality machinery and equipment that can be customised to the client’s individual requirements, for everything from cold rooms and hotel kitchens through to restaurants and coffee shop counters.
Al-Halabi also imports quality commercial kitchen equipment from leading manufacturers across the world, offering a wide range of products like fryers, convection ovens, grills and griddles, ice cream machines and freezers, pizza ovens, cold dispenser and slush machines, fruit juicers and blenders, food processors, water boiler and cooler, meat mincers and slicers, coffee machines, and many other ranges.
What new products have you launched recently?
Al-Halabi has launched a new Wooden Salad Bar, as well as new upright chillers and freezers specially designed for villa kitchens.
What is your best seller?
Our best sellers are our refrigeration units that we manufacture, plus the cooking lines that we import from Mareno Italy.
What other news is there from your company this year?
Al Halabi has started the construction of its new factory building in Sharjah, which will be handed over by the end of 2013, and opened a new showroom in Al Ain city, its fifth UAE branch.
Al Halabi is also participating in Host Fiera Milano Exhibition in Italy, from October 18-22. Our Stand Number is R11 in Hall #5.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Working on all sizes and types of project, the Al-Halabi project management team ensures that the needs of the customer are met by the provision of a dedicated multidisciplinary workforce whose strengths are built on success, experience and the ability to plan, implement and evaluate each stage of development. This allows Al-Halabi to provide a service that covers everything from A to Z, thereby enabling its customers to do what they do best, run their businesses, without any worries or distractions.
Tel: +971 4 265 2002
Email: sales@al-halabi.com
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BONCAFE MIDDLE EAST LLC
Boncafe Middle East is a leading coffee manufacturer and key supplier of freshly roasted and ground gourmet coffee. Boncafe is also the exclusive distributor and representative of coffee machine and equipment brands such as La Marzocco, Thermoplan, BONRetro, Mahlkonig, Cremesso, Grindmaster, Vitamix and Turbochef in the region.
The company was set up in Dubai in 2003 and an additional subsidiary, BONEquip was established in 2005 due to demand to provide in-house coffee shop design and foodservice supplies.
With a staff strength of 41 and a service centre in Dubai’s Al Rashidiya area, Boncafe has the capability to maintain and technically support the most sophisticated coffee machines and equipment. The company recently launched Grand Cru, a new coffee product that is a blend of 100% Arabica, Brazilian coffee beans.
Boncafe will soon launch the La Marzocco PB and Black and White CM3 for the first time in the Middle East. The product features La Marzocco’s fully automatic coffee, tea and milk maker, Thermoplan, with a chocolate module that has two separate containers for milk chocolate and dark chocolate.
Tel: +971 4 2828 742
Email: info.bme@boncafeme.ae
Web: www.boncafeme.ae
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DUNI
Duni regional director for Middle East and North Africa Alexander Reckzeh explains why quality and range wins the day
When was your company established?
Duni started in 1949 with the production of wax coated paper cups and paper napkins.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
Duni’s annual turnover was US $560 million in 2012.
What’s your company vision?
To be the leading supplier of premium table top concepts and packaging solutions for take-away.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
Duni offers a broad portfolio of highest quality single use products for the hospitality sector. Duni offers premium quality napkins, table cloths, table runners, coasters and candles. At its core lies premium quality single use napkins with the look and feel of real linen napkins. The Duni single use napkins, such as premium quality Dunilin offer all the benefits of real fabric napkins without the many disadvantages fabric napkins have.
What new products have you launched recently?
Duni recently launched the Duniletto range in the Middle East, which is a convenient to use and time efficient solution. Duniletto is a high quality napkin that serves as a cutlery pouch and holds the cutlery nice and neatly. It is the optimal solution for lunches, breakfasts and all other occasions where efficient service and high quality table decoration is essential.
What other news is there from your company this year?
Duni has opened a regional office in Dubai in order to serve the needs of the Middle East market more effectively.
What is your best seller?
Our best seller in the Middle East are our high quality Dunilin single use napkins and Duniletto.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Quality, flexibility and a broad choice of colours, materials and sizes of napkins and table cloth. For pubs and bars and more casual outlets Duni has the right solution as well.
Email :info@duni.com
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Food Manufactory LLC
Mohamed Alawadhi tells Hotelier why impeccable service will be the USP of his new specialist food firm
When was your company established?
In October 2012, I negotiated with a distributor of Asian food products in Dubai to open a company, Food Manufactory (FM) LLC on February 2013. However, the plans fell through, but after learning from this experience and starting again, I now have a factory and office in Dubai Investment Park which will be officially opened at the end of October 2013 or early November 2013.
What is your company’s vision?
Our vision is to train a team under European management to produce tailor-made items for hotels in smaller quantities. We are not like other firms where you have to make monthly orders of 10 tonnes or 10,000 litres.
How many people are employed in your company?
Currently we have 14 in total, with four working in management and sales, and 10 in production. If all goes according to plan, we will eventually have up to 80 people in the factory. However, I would like to point out that my goal is not to employ a multitude of staff for no reason — I want to create products with professional equipment to guarantee consistency and quality.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your team?
The Food Manufactory competence team consists of a teppanyaki master and noodle/dumpling specialist Xiao Wang from Shanghai, who has previously worked for Bohnert GmbH Germany; Heike Voigt, who is the first European female sushi champion in the UAE and plays an advisory role in Asian food creations and concepts; and dumpling specialist chef Yodkwan Lulitananda, who also owns the Kwanchitr restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand.
What are your core products for the hospitality industry?
We will be producing different Asian dumplings, noodles, sauces, marinating sauces, and soups.
What will be your best seller?
At the moment we are getting positive feedback for items including sauces, dumplings and noodles, fresh and frozen. However, Food Manufactory’s best seller would be its offering to provide custom solutions to chefs and giving them whatever they need.
Do you already have any customers?
We are currently in talks with restaurant chains and large food distributors that have expressed a keen in Food Manufactory’s products in the UAE as well as the GCC market. We haven’t signed the contracts yet but the kinds of customers we anticipate are restaurant chains, as well as four and five-star hotels.
Why did you decide to open a factory in the UAE?
One of the main reasons was to locally produce Asian food items for the Middle East and the GCC. Normally these are imported from places like Vietnam or Thailand. However if you produce items locally you stay in complete control. Here, we can control everything from hygiene to manufacturing, from transportation to installation. If you import, the control begins only from the moment the container enters the warehouse. We will also be distributing our own products as we like to be responsible for everything — from our successes to any mistakes.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectations?
Professionalism – after having been in the hospitality business for a few years now, it’s evident that excuses run deep within the industry, with producers and distributors giving a number of reasons for not fulfilling customer needs. My offer to hotel and hospitality customers is to cut out these kinds of excuses.
what differentiates your company from others?
We have a highly equipped modern facility with an international team of professionals — this makes us stand out. For example, I can tell you that 70% of orders from hotels for items similar to those we provide are classified as “emergency orders” whereas in UK and Australia you will receive only 2-3% of such orders. In addition, we have invested in professional manufacturing equipment to guarantee consistency. And finally, our ability to tailor solutions and create products based on consumer requirements is an important USP.
Email:fm@fmuae.ae
Web: www.fmuae.ae
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Greenfield World Trade
Jonathan Vadnos, VP, says the equipment in a kitchen affects how people experience your establishment
When was your company established?
The management team has been together for more than 25 years. In 1999, we formed Greenfield World Trade, a full-service, international supplier of commercial foodservice equipment and supplies. We represent over 32 world-class manufacturers of high quality commercial restaurant equipment.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
Whether you need a bar blender or a flight type dishwasher, Greenfield World Trade has it. Our range of products and price points covers every step in the hospitality foodservice chain, as the equipment you have in your kitchen ultimately affects how people experience your establishment.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
We’ve grown from four employees to more than 250 worldwide, with sales in excess of $200 million.
What’s your company vision?
Our philosophy is simple, we work with best brands and carefully monitor quality through all steps of order fulfillment.
What new products have you launched recently?
The Excalibur Commercial 2-zone dehydrator with a digital controller is our most recent launch which many establishments are using to expand their menu options and gain revenue from an emphasis on freshness and farm-to-table offerings.
What other news is there from your company?
Earlier this year, we acquired Kold-Draft, a company best known for producing premium ice, with machines preferred by premium bars, hotels and mixologists. Kold-Draft ice is the largest, purest, perfectly square cube due to an exclusive upside-down horizontal evaporator. We also have new production introductions from brands such as Blakeslee, Excalibur, Omega as well as General, Maxximum and Zeroll.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Our experience and expertise is a result of our direct relationships with global and local consultants, international chain restaurants, worldwide hoteliers, foodservice equipment distributors and independent restaurant operators. While we have enjoyed considerable growth and success over the years, we remain committed to the principles that have helped to build our business.
Tel : +1 954 202 7336
Email : sales@greenfieldworld.com
Web : www.GreenfieldWorld.com
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1765 GEMINI
1765 Gemini is a Dubai-based hospitality company which prides itself on working with professional hospitality brands such as Ascolia, Viamotif, Rosenthal, Robert Welch, Sambonet, Stoelzle, Beltrami, Lumea, Clipper Mill, Modern Twist, Novox, Impulse, and Churchill China, one of the world’s major manufacturers and distributors of high quality ceramic tableware.
The company’s goal is to meet and exceed customer expectations by offering the market a one-stop shop for F&B tabletop solutions as well as in-room equipment and housekeeping. 1765 Gemini’s portfolio of clients includes hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and sporting venues in the UAE and across neighbouring countries.
1765 Gemini also recently added two new brands to its product portfolio — JIA Inc for serving dishes and table accessories, as well as Emile Henry, a French brand renowned for its colourful ceramic cookware.
Tel : +971 4 388 4773
Email : royston@1765gemini.com
Web : www.1765gemini.com
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GREENHOUSE SUPERMARKETS
Greenhouse Supermarkets was established in the UAE in 1977 and employs around 120 people. The distributor represents multinational brands such as Elle & Vire, Bridor, Patisfrance, President, La Beyrie, Entre Mont, Patis France, St Dalfour, Lactalis and others.
GHS is one of the top three distributors in the food service industry and in the top 10 list of retail distributors in the country. GHS’ core product categories are dairy, speciality items, fine gourmet food, fresh oysters, frozen seafood, Italian products, Asian products, pastry and bakery products, and frozen bakery items.
The company recently introduced a new brand of Italian mineral water, natural sweetener, a new line of cheeses and frozen Mediterranean seafood.
GHS is also going through a major expansion in its human resources staffing and logistics facilities in order to better serve its customer base. A new state of the art warehousing facility is under construction in Dubai Investment Park with an area of 20,000 m2 set aside to handle the expansion plan.
Tel : ++971 6 5332 218
Email : info@greenhouseuae.com
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ITALIAN FOOTWEAR SOLUTION
Italian Footwear Solution’s CEO and chairman Raphael Lauria stresses that quality and innovation ensures he offers a unique product to the hospitality industry
When was your company established?
Italian Footwear Solution LLC is a footwear designing, developing and manufacturing company dealing mainly with uniform specialised footwear for professional use. It was founded almost three years ago in 2010 by myself and Rajesh Menon, who is the managing director.
We are proud to say that the Jumeirah Group, Emirates Airline, Dubai Duty Free, Hyatt Group, Sheraton and Hilton Worldwide are amongst our long list of prestigious customers.
We are proud of our heritage and see a bright future ahead of us always bringing new innovations and new patents to continuously improve ourselves, our products, our services and our company.
How many people are employed by your company?
Today IFS employs more than 32 internationally dedicated qualified trained staff in Dubai, Qatar, Italy and Canada.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
IFS has an annual turnover of more than AED 30 million with a 45% overall department growth. Our hospitality department alone should double by the end of 2014 thanks to our new franchise project across the Middle East.
What is your company vision?
Our vision and mission statement is being recognised across the world as the leaders in professional institutional footwear company. This will be obtained thanks to our team of experts and by continuously challenging ourselves by bringing new ideas and improving our products utilising today’s technology and tools for all our specific branded products.
What new products have you launched recently?
We added to our range our Prochef series for catering and Hammer Trust for safety shoes. We also added to our four specialized departments — hospitality, aviation, government, and schools — a fifth; a new medical/clinical department to cater to hospitals, clinics, spas, and pharmacies.
What other news is there from your company this year?
In January 2013, IFS opened its first IFS franchise concept in Qatar with longtime partner Anesco Trading and our vision is to franchise our unique concept of specialised branded products and professional services across the Middle East. Today we are looking for partners in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. IFS will soon open its retail stores branded Ecoflex in Dubai and Abu Dhabi so that our customers can redeem their shoes against vouchers while introducing innovative exciting ranges for the general public.
What is your best seller?
Our best sellers for men are from our winning ranges — Oxford Executive (front office), Mr Class(front office), Derby Air Walk (back office) and for women we have the famous Court Director (front office), Court Star(front office) and finally our award winning Ms Comfy (back office).
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
We offer our 5-Star Golden Tag of Quality professional series range. We created specialised institutional footwear for professional use by listening to our customers, combined with our 32 years’ footwear experience.
These five stars are: 100% best quality pure soft grain leather; micro-fresh technology which fights bacteria, mould and fungus; orthopaedic antibacterial soft padded stress-less foot-bed making every step you take like walking on air; slip resistance light weight soles that protect the workers from slipping and injuring themselves during work; flexible technology designed shoes that follow the natural movement of the foot, giving you incredible comfort while walking.
Our business is our everyday life and with this in mind, we not only wear and try our own products but treat our customers as we would want to be treated — with respect, professionalism and speedy service thanks to our stock availability and courteous delivery drivers.
All our products are backed with our 100% satisfaction and money back guarantee and if for any reason we do not match our customers’ expectations, I will personally contact them to apologise and understand how we can improve ourselves.
Institutional customers know the necessity to have strong, durable but comfortable footwear. While our competitors are still only importing nonprofessional footwear, we on the contrary have developed our own institutional range for professional use with our own brands like Ecoflex, Ecoflex Junior, Prochef, Hammer Trust, Angel, and Capo Italy, which all have the characteristics of having our 5-Star Golden Tab of Quality.
Tel : ++971 4 8800 560
Email : info@ifsdubai.com
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INTERMETAL LTD
Intermetal is a leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor contract furniture for the hospitality contract market. The company was founded in Sharjah in 1993 to cater to the needs of the hospitality, educational and industrial markets.
With full scale manufacturing capabilities, each process is stringently followed from start to finish resulting in quality, durable products that exceed our customers’ expectations. Intermetal’s product range includes furniture, kitchens, cabinetry, doors and wardrobes and the onsite coil coating lines meet the demand for pre-painted aluminium, galvanized and aluzinc coils.
The company recently launched the latest addition to its Nest collection, a contemporary range of mobile buffet tables for the hospitality and food services industry. Versatile and resilient, the table frames can be powder coated in one or two colours. As part of its green initiative, Intermetal has dedicated recycling facilities for aluminium and scrap materials generated during production.
Tel : +971 4 8841650
Email : customer service@intermetal.com
Web :www.intermetal.com
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LIQUID OF LIFE
Rukhsana Kausar, founding partner of Liquid of Life, explains why water filtration systems are a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable option for hotels
When was your company established?
Liquid of Life LLC was established in Dubai in 2009 and since then has developed in to a company that has a growing reputation of being the premier provider of drinking water solutions in the UAE.
How many people are employed by your company?
We have a team of nine people working on our business.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
The annual turnover projection for this year is close to over AED 3 million. We have also secured contracts at the design stage of facilities and our growing reputation for having a dynamic hands-on approach has ensured the delivery, implementation and ongoing support of several major projects with an increasing order book of projects to be executed in the UAE and also in Qatar this year.
What is your company vision?
Working with us will change the way you view drinking water. We intend to remain one of the region’s most reputable companies in providing alternative solutions to plastic bottled drinking water and the premier provider of water filtration systems generally. We believe in providing straightforward, no-nonsense advice so that our clients can make an informed decision in choosing to work with us.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
We help the hospitality industry by implementing solutions that help to reduce plastic bottled water consumption that is costly to the business and also to the environment. Our bottle-free dispensers are modern and sleek in design and come in a range of finishes including real wood, brushed aluminum and stainless steel.
The fantastic appearance allows for the dispensers to be a feature in the front and back of house. No longer is a water dispenser an eyesore, it can be a value adding feature to public areas, such as club houses, gyms, spas and cafeterias.
The bottle-free units come with an in-built water filtration system and are connected directly to an existing water supply. Using filters manufactured in the USA, tested and accredited by NSF and ANSI, the water is purified and then kept heated and chilled ready to be dispensed for drinking.
The mineral content of the water dispensed exceeds the quality of most bottled water, and the filters ensure that the quality of the water dispensed remains consistent. All the dispensers have a service agreement, which guarantees the units are properly maintained every year. We assess, provide the solution, implement/install the units and filters and then continue to provide ongoing support and maintenance.
What new products have you launched recently?
We have recently started to provide filters for coffee machines, ice makes, steamers, basically any equipment that requires the input of a quality source of water. Our knowledge and expertise of water and filters has led a number of hotels to switch from their existing suppliers to us.
What other news is there from your company this year?
We are pleased to be a supporting partner of the Whole World Water campaign in the region, which we are currently developing. Today, nearly one billion people don’t have access to clean and safe water.
Whole World Water is a global initiative designed to unite the hospitality and tourism industry on a non-competitive platform to address this issue. The campaign centres on encouraging the hospitality sector to provide filtered water, which can be sold in the glass bottles that have been especially designed by Whole World Water.
What is your best seller?
The Pacific model of our hot/cold bottle-free dispensers is currently extremely popular. It is sleek, elegant and can handle providing drinking water in high consumption areas such as staff cafeterias.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
When we start working with clients, we take the time to understand what the drinking water needs and requirements are and are able to offer bespoke solutions. Once we have that understanding, we provide a comprehensive feasibility study that really sets out a full cost/benefit analysis as well as a carbon and water footprint reduction analysis.
Projects are always supported by carrying out independent water tests and we also conduct talks to educate staff about the benefits of switching from plastic bottled water to filtered drinking water from our dispensers, which is always welcomed and well received by staff.
Tel : +91 4 441 9236
Email : contact@liquidoflife.net
Web : www.liquidoflife.net
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MIR HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES
Rano Alibabaea, marketing manager at newly established company, MIR Hospitality Supplies, tells Hotelier what sets the company apart
When was your company established?
MIR Hospitality Supplies was founded in September 2013. Based in Dubai and Russia, we are a professional hospitality supply company, integrating hotel supply, research and development, manufacturing, sales, transportation and service.
What is your company vision?
Our vision is to build our brand with our ability to provide custom made products to our international clients thereby building long term business relationships with them.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
Our international factories offer a remarkable production capacity for all articles a hotel may need and we provide reliable distribution service to all markets or clients.
Our portfolio includes operational products for housekeeping, F&B, kitchen and stewarding, banquets and conferences, spa, pool and beach areas. With our expertise and extensive network we can also provide bed and table linen, non-woven products, hotel amenities and leather goods, flatware, chafing dishes, uniforms, LED furniture, glassware, disposable cups, promotional items etc. We also keep stock for LED Candles, LED lamps and candle holders, silicone and vinyl placemats and coasters.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Personal service and individual account management coupled with research and development, manufacturing, sales and transportation. Everyone at MIR Hospitality Supplies is passionate about what they do.
We continually enjoy researching new ideas and technologies through working closely and in partnership with general managers, interior designers and procurement teams. Our commitment to service excellence and product innovation will always remain at the forefront of the service and quality we provide to all our customers.
All our products have been individually designed and incorporate some of the most advanced technology. Our unique range of products will not only help to transform the ambient mood lighting, but are some of the most competitively priced hospitality supplies on the market today.
Tel : 971 4 4200 123
Email : info@miruae.com or sales@miruae.com
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MEIKO
Dishwasher brand Meiko, which was founded in 1927, posted a worldwide turnover of €260 million in 2012. The company recently launched the M-iQ dishwashing machine that does not require a separate ventilation canopy.
The M-iQ also cancels out the need for a separate glass washer at hotels. Combined with the GiO-Tech feature, M-iQ machines offer special water treatment for perfect results, with no polishing of glasses or cutlery required, thus saving time for employees.
Meiko is committed to offering sustainable cleaning technology and aims to combine high standards of hygiene and safety with frugal use of water and energy, while incorporating modern technology to offer cost-effective products.
In 2013, Meiko founded its South-East Asian regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition to its established companies in China and India, Meiko is now focusing on the newly industrialised markets of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Tel :+971 4 3415 172
Email :wat@meiko.de
Web : www.meiko.de
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MKN
MKN, founded in Germany in 1946, employs around 460 experienced specialists at its factory in Lower Saxony. The company recently launched the multifunctional FlexiChef, which combines cooking, frying, pressure cooking, and deep frying functions in one machine. Other releases include the HansDampf combisteamer, a modular appliance range, and an individually designed station called Kuchenmeister.
In an effort to go green, MKN has formed a GreenTeam, which develops and initiates strategies for sustainability as well as monitoring their implementation. MKN technology reduces energy consumption and the company uses 100% green electricity from hydropower.
For its “green products”, MKN is certified according to ISO 14001. The FlexiChef’s heating system Turbo PowerBlock uses energy only where it is required. With its multi-sensors it automatically recognises where energy has to be supplied. The intelligent four-layer material combination is a fast energy accumulator with little waste heat loss. Combined, it leads to higher efficiency and a reduction of energy costs.
Tel :+971 4 3415 172
Email :rac@mkn-middle-east.com
Web : www.mkn.eu
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NEWBY TEAS OF LONDON
Newby Teas of London’s mission is to revive tea culture and it offers more than 150 varieties of teas and tisanes, including blacks, greens, oolong teas and specialty teas as well as herbal infusions. Through its own state of the art facility, processes and systems, Newby manages every aspect of its tea, from sourcing and preserving to blending and packaging. With offices in 11 countries and a growing presence across Europe and Asia, Newby employs more than 350 people around the world. In the UAE, Newby recently launched three new ranges – Berries Delight, Rooibos Orange and Ginseng Oolong.
The company’s best sellers in the Middle East include English breakfast, Masala Chai Assam, Green Sencha, Oriental Sencha, Silver Needle, Rosehip & Hibiscus, and Chamomile. Newby is part of the Ethical Tea Partnership, which aims to create a tea industry that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.
Tel : +971 4 335 7090
Email : sales@newbyteas.ae
Web : www.newbyteas.com
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NEW JERSEY NUTS PACKAGING
Royston Rodrigues, founder and director of New Jersey Nuts Packaging, explains how the company works with chefs to tailor make their mixes.
When was your company established?
New Jersey Nuts Packaging LLC was established in 2007; we started off as a trading company and by 2008 opened our own manufacturing unit in Sharjah. Our company specialises in producing quality mixes and flavour nuts ourselves, hence we achieve a uniform and quality product. We have opened a branch in India as well and cater to the retail sector in the metro cities.
How many people are employed by your company?
With a modest start of two people we have now grown to 10 members in UAE, in order to cater to the increase in demand. Our staff comprises experienced and knowledgeable members in the field of food, especially nut roasting and flavouring. Our sourcing and quality department strives to get the perfect balance of flavours and produce uniform quality products each and every time. In India we have 16 employees to take care of the ever increasing retail demand.
What new products have you launched recently?
We started our business with supplying nuts and snacks, however, looking at the market, we also started snack items such as hand cooked crisps, and vegetable chips, which will be produced in our unit. We soon plan to import Swiss chocolates and stuffed olives for the hospitality sector. We supply them in catering packs, 100gm glass jars, 100gm canisters packs and as per client requests.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond
expectation?
In the hospitality sector, we have always kept quality and customer satisfaction as our top priority — quality products and competitive pricing are what we provide. We work closely with the chef and F&B department of hotels to come up with specific mixes for their customers. We tailor make every mix to suit the taste and demand of different hotels and clientele.
Tel : +971 6 5428 690
Email : royston@newjerseyfoods.ae or sales@newjerseyfoods.ae
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RATIONAL AG
Rational AG, founded in 1973, specialises in appliances for preparation of hot food. The company has a worldwide market share of 54% and posted a turnover of €435 million in 2012. The company’s newest products include the patented HiDensityControl to ensure that heat and humidity are introduced — precisely metered — exactly where they are needed according to how well cooked the food is.
The technology has resulted in 30% larger load sizes, 30% time saving in production and 20% reduced power consumption compared to Rational’s former model.
A second new concept, Efficient LevelControl knows what types of food can be cooked together and makes appropriate suggestions. Efficient LevelControl increases unit utilisation despite shorter production times and delivers consistently high food quality, even during rush hour.
Rational’s new generation of the automatic cleaning system, CareControl, detects when the unit requires cleaning or care and suggests the optimum cleaning level, making savings of up to 40% compared to conventional automatic programmes possible.
Tel : +971 4 4318 835
Email : info@rational-online.ae
Web : www.rational-online.ae
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RENARTE HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES
Established in 2006 with a handful of exclusive brands, Renarte Hospitality Supplies has gradually grown into a leading hotel supplies company in the Middle East. Renarte’s turnover has consistently grown over the years and currently stands at US $8 million.
Renarte’s core products for the hospitality industry include chinaware, flatware, glassware, kitchen utensils, in-room accessories such as minibars, safes, ironing centres, as well as hospitality trays, luggage and housekeeping trolleys, banqueting furniture, bar and stewarding equipment, and bed, bath and table linen.
The company holds exclusive trading agreements with several manufacturers it trades with in Europe, the Far East and the United States.
Some of Renarte’s latest products include the Granite collection from tableware manufacturer Dudson, Ecoflex banquet tables by Forbes and new bathroom scales and hairdryers from Bentley. Renarte has also opened a new trade showroom in Dubai’s Grosvenor Business Tower, designed to be the one-stop shop for hoteliers and restaurateurs to view products for new openings or refurbishments.
Tel : +971 4 4356 994
Web : www.renartellc.com
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Solarco Equipments LLC
Owner and managing director Philippe Bacha has a lot to celebrate with new showrooms and new clients
When was your company established?
Solarco Equipments LLC was established in 2007 in Dubai.
How many people are employed by your company?
Solarco Equipments presently employs 25 full time employees and is expected to reach 35 employees by the end of 2013 to satisfy the requirements of new projects region-wide and in Africa.
WHAT achievements ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
Solarco Equipments LLC prides itself on having the largest number of three-star Michelin chef restaurants in its portfolio. These include Alain Ducasse, Guy Savoy and Pierre Gagnaire’s establishments. We are also proud to count most of the major hotel operators in our list of references.
What is your company vision?
Solarco Equipments has always strived to prioritise customer support in all its projects, whereby this resulted in a majority of recurring clients, be it contractors, hotel operators or actual financial investors.
In line with this vision, Solarco Equipments is the only company in the region to have a dedicated technical support website which also acts as a database for useful articles and recommended best practices to our clients.
Our support website allows our clients to keep track of each and every technical support request they initiate all through to the resolution and closing of the technical ticket. It will also allow them to have a historical view of the problematic equipment especially if they implement our internal serialised numbering approach.
What are your core products/services for the hospitality industry?
We specialise in all the professional kitchen and laundry equipment requirements for any food producing or laundry activity such as sales and installation. Additional services include, but are not limited to, technical and conceptual designs of kitchens and laundries as well as annual maintenance contracts and other support services.
What new products have you launched recently?
We have introduced a large number of new European brands that were unknown in this market and helped them develop their export activities to our clients. Those brands have obviously had a proven track record on the European market and therefore satisfy all the quality requirements in such a competitive and demanding market as the GCC. They were also chosen for having a most competitive price/quality ratio greatly benefiting the end users by reducing their capital expenditure in the past few years during the economic crisis.
What other news is there from your company this year?
Solarco Equipments LLC has signed an agency agreement in Qatar and is expecting to expand its activity in this market by opening a branch in Q4, 2013. A new showroom is also expected to open in Deira, Dubai to give quicker and easier access to our clients, especially for unit sales where clients might want to see the products on offer.
What is your best seller?
Our introduction of such brands as Cunill (for silent coffee grinders and citrus juicers), Gam Professional (for table top preparation equipment), Everest (for meat mincers) and Celme (for meat and cheese slicers) and especially Casadio by La Cimbali (for espresso machines) have proven to be a success beyond our expectations and have already taken a substantial share of the market in those product categories.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Our expertise and professionalism are our number one asset and we leverage them through offering design services to complement our other sales activities. Obviously our dedication to custom support and impeccable after sales services greatly contribute to position us as the partner of choice for our hotel clients
Tel : +971 4 885 3335
Email : pbacha@solarcoequipments.com
Web : www.solarcoequipments.com
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Truebell Marketing & Trading
General manager — hospitality division, Daniel Hall explains the importance of commitment and enthusiasm
When was your company established?
Truebell Marketing and Trading began its journey in 1984 with an initial foray into the UAE food industry and within a few short years established itself as one of the preferred suppliers in the hospitality sector.
The hospitality division has been in existence for over a decade and is one of the leading suppliers of hotel amenities and food and beverage equipment to the HORECA segment across the GCC.
How many people are employed by your company?
Truebell itself in its various divisions employs over 600 qualified, motivated and trained professionals. The hospitality division employs more than 40 staff and is dedicated to ensuring that all our customers and suppliers are treated in a courteous, professional and enthusiastic manner.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
Truebell Marketing has an annual turnover of over AED 550 million (US $148 million) and we are expanding every year with realistic and sustainable growth.
What’s your company vision?
In line with Truebell’s corporate strategy the hospitality department is constantly striving to develop as the market leader in both service and products on offer.
We try to achieve this through creativity, quality, innovation, ecology, reliability and first class service to all our clients’ expectations.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
The Hospitality Division offers an extensive selection of all catering equipment, table-top, barware, glassware and flatware.
A selection of our partners/brands are; Riedel glassware, Amefa cutlery, Lacor, Arcos, Smart Candle, Safe Tray, and Utopia Tableware. Each brings world leading expertise to their area of manufacturing.
We are also a major supplier of hotel amenities and in room equipment in the region and are the exclusive distribution partner of Groupe GM for the UAE.
The unique brand portfolio ensures that we can offer both globally recognised brands and a tailored response to any requirements a client may have. We can offer value, quality and an environmentally friendly option with many brands being available with the Ecolabel certification.
A selection of the brands available includes Clarins, Thierry Mugler, Azzaro, Anne Semonim, Yves Rocher and many other luxury brands.
What new products have you launched recently?
On the equipment side, Truebell in partnership with Riedel has recently launched a new range of glassware to celebrate their 40th anniversary Sommelier varietal line. This is proving to be very popular for the fine dining sector.
We have also added the Smart Candle brand, which is a full range of LED based candles and lighting solutions. In amenities, Groupe GM has added some fantastic brands, which are now available from Truebell — Nuxe, and Missoni are both exciting ranges that have a leading place in the cosmetics field and they are now available for the hotel sector. The world famous Guerlain brand now has a range of hotel amenities and in keeping with the luxurious and high perceived value of the brand, it is by invitation only.
What other news is there from your company this year?
Truebell will be exhibiting at the Hotel Show in September 2013 and is looking forward to welcoming both existing and new customers.
What is your best seller?
In equipment, Riedel glassware is our biggest seller and we supply hotels and restaurants across the entire GCC. It is the market leader in varietal specific wine glasses and everyone in the trade knows the brand and the quality it represents.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
The Hospitality Division’s main objective is to provide outstanding customer satisfaction throughout all aspects of our business. We understand the commitment and enthusiasm that is needed to achieve levels of excellence that exceed expectations.
We ensure that at all times we deal with the customer both promptly and with transparency.
Tel : +971 6 5342111
Email : hospitality@truebell.org
Web : www.truebell.org
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VALRHONA
Zeyneb Larabi, Middle East area manager for Valrhona, discusses the company’s growth
over the years
When was your company established?
Le Grand Chocolat was established in 1922 and changed its name to Valrhona in 1947, building its reputation on tradition, respect, product quality and strong commitment to pastry chefs, bakers, and confectioners. In 1984, Valrhona turned its attention to non professional customers, with delicious creations. In the 1990s, the company strengthened its offering to the world of gastronomy professionals by going even further to meet their specific needs through a range of exclusive products and services.
How has the company grown?
Today, with production still centralised in Tain L’Hermitage, France, and an international presence driven by innovation, Valrhona’s business is spread over 73 countries, four subsidaries (Italy, Spain, Japan and New York) and 13,000 clients with whom the brand has built a special relationship.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
Since its creation, Valrhona’s mission has been to contribute to the success of its professional clients in the gastronomy industry, both in France and worldwide. The professional range offers 80 product references such as Mariages de Grands Crus, pure origins chocolate, estate grown chocolate, and pralines nuts base. These exclusive creations help Valrhona’s professional clientele to fully demonstrate their expertise.
What new products have you launched recently?
A new pure origin chocolate from Grenada — Kalingo 65%. In Grenada, which is nicknamed the island of spices, the history of cocoa is intertwined with that of spices. Once upon a time, cocoa beans were polished and trampled underfoot in large copper basins as part of a traditional dance. Today, the island’s cocoa beans are grown by small-scale farmers on one to two hectare plots. In Grenada, Valrhona has selected an exceptional cocoa variety rooted in the native land of one of the island’s Amerindian populations. This range is named after them, the Kalinagos.
Web : www.valrhona.fe or www.chefmiddleeast.com
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Winterhalter
David Morris, regional director Middle East, explains why customers have peace of mind with Winterhalter
When was your company established?
Winterhalter was founded in 1947 by Karl Winterhalter in Germany. Today, Jürgen and Ralph Winterhalter, son and grandson of the founder, are in charge of the family enterprise. Winterhalter Middle East was established in 2006.
How many people are employed by your company?
The company currently has more than a thousand employees around the world. A total of 37 sales offices and distribution partners in many further countries ensure a worldwide presence.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
Winterhalter is a global market leader in the warewashing industry, with sales in excess of 32,000 machines each year.
What is your company vision?
“We sell clean plates!” We give our customers peace of mind with the reliability, top performance and lower operational costs of our machines to ensure they continue to deliver clean plates.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
As a ware washing specialist, Winterhalter's portfolio of highly efficient machines ranges from small glass-washers and dishwashers up to multi-tank flight-type and rack conveyor machines. Winterhalter is a complete system solution provider for commercial dishwashers, detergent products, water treatment and accessories, as well as being acknowledged all over the world as a specialist in the field of glass-washing. Our range of machines is designed to fulfil all of the requirements in a busy catering operation including glasses, plates, coffee cups, cutlery, pots pans and utensils.
What new products have you launched recently?
We are currently launching our new ‘PT’ (pass through) machine. The innovation in its development achieves levels of speed, efficiency and performance never seen before. This is made possible with the most successful water filtration system, (100% four stage), controllable water pressure, (Variopower), from the wash arms and an intelligent energy management system that directs the power where it is needed, when it is needed. Other developments such as our Magnadrive and new heat exchanger (fitted as standard) ensure the least amount of energy is used during the wash cycle.
What other news is there from your company this year?
Winterhalter manufactures at three locations: in Meckenbeuren and Endingen(Germany) as well as in Rüthi (Switzerland). This year we completed the construction of our new, state-of-the-art headquarters incorporating new production lines, research and development facilities and test laboratories for our machines, and for the development of Winterhalter’s own formulae for detergents and rinse aids.
What is your best seller?
Before the recent release of the new PT, the leading innovator in the market was our UC (under counter) machine. Nothing can match the brilliant results, energy efficiency and user friendliness of the UC. In a very price driven market, such as the Middle East, we have found that our largest machines, the MTR’s, have proved to be our best sellers.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Winterhalter is the only ware washing manufacturer to have a team of engineers based in the Middle East to support dealers, training, installations and repairs. Second only to the cooking production suite in a commercial kitchen we understand how important it is to keep a dishwasher running during service. Winterhalter ensures spare parts are made available locally to reduce waiting times.
We also supply a range of water treatment units including softeners, demineralisation and reverse osmosis. The conditions and temperatures of water in the Middle East regions represent a particular challenge to high quality dish and glass washing. Our team of specialists have successfully become the first to achieve true ‘polish free’ glasses in Dubai using a combination of our machines, chemicals and water treatment.
Tel : +971 (0)67 447 401
Email :info@winterhalter.ae
Web : www.winterhalter.biz