10. Francisco Araya, Culinary School Director, School of Culinary And Finishing Arts
As well as offering training in the full spectrum of culinary arts, SCAFA runs an apprenticeship programme that also enables students to gain real-world work experience with the organisation’s training partners Sofitel and Jones the Grocer. Since moving to Dubai in 2012, Araya has been responsible for successfully designing and running SCAFA’s Professional Programmes.
SCAFA’s annual growth at its three Dubai premises, which include the Culinary School itself, the student-run café SCAFE, and the SCAFA Petite Culinary Studio, has been stable at 30% since the launch three years ago. In that time, the organisation has developed good relationships with the governments of Dubai and Sharjah, working with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing to develop F&B activities for Made In Dubai at Zabeel Park and Modesh World in DWTC. Araya’s goals for 2016 include expanding SCAFA within the MENA market. The organisation currently has two new developments in the pipeline for next year, both of which are still at the contract phase, and it expects to extend the SCAFA apprenticeship programme by partnering with more hospitality businesses in the UAE.
Bite-sized facts:
Number of years in the F&B industry: 20+
Number of years with this company: 4
Number of years in this role: 4
Number of years working in the Middle East: 4
Number of people you are responsible for: 30
Number of F&B outlets in the Middle East: 3
Nationality: Chile
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