Liwa Minor Food and Beverages LLC, a joint venture between Thai-based Minor Group and Al Nasser Holdings Group, has appointed Paul Smith as the new CEO to oversee the expansion of the group.
Liwa Minor opened its first brand in the UAE, The Coffee Club, which is Australia’s largest café chain. It opened its first store in January at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall. This was soon followed by their second store at Dubai’s Wasl Vita Mall in March.
By the end of 2015, the chain hopes to open four more stores across the UAE – at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Airport Free Zone and two other locations in the capital.
Smith comes into the role with experience in PLC, joint venture, private and WFOE businesses and a reputation for business development. His previous experience includes roles at Thailand-based The RMA Group, MENA, Russia, China and SE Asia-based Costa Coffee, Kuwait-based M.H. Alshaya and UK-based Marks & Spencer.
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"The UAE is full of opportunity, we see new F&B concepts being launched on a daily basis giving customers huge choice and variety. We need to ensure that the foundations we establish give our customers a great choice of quality brands, outstandingly operated with exemplary customer service; and I’m excited to be part of that." said Smith.
“Having worked in new market launches in MENA, Russia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, the UAE stands out as having a great foundation of café culture that is already very much part of the country’s heritage."
“We warmly welcome Paul Smith on board and are motivated to face the challenges the bustling F&B industry in the UAE brings. His wealth of experience will be instrumental in setting us apart in the market and complementing our expansion into other GCC markets,” said Abdulla Nasser Al Mansoori, chairman of the board at Al Nasser Holdings and Group.
The Coffee Club is owned by Minor DKL Food Group; an Australian retail food brand franchisor.
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