Chef Middle East opens new Dubai-based regional distribution hub
Regional food supplier Chef Middle East has inaugurated its new AED 75 million (US$ 20 million) distribution centre at Dubai Investments Park (DIP). DIP general manager Omar Al Mesmar attended the grand opening and cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the 10,000 square metre facility.
“The substantial investment by Chef Middle East in this outstanding, state-of-the-art facility is a good example of one of the region’s respected companies investing in Dubai Investments Park and reaffirms the status of DIP as one of the leading and most sought after business parks in the Middle East. This new distribution centre is a perfect example of the world-class facilities and services that Dubai has to offer and raises the bar for food sector logistics in the region. It will help redefine the regional food distribution services, with a world-class platform and a dedicated team within DIP," Al Mesmar said.
Chef Middle East CEO Steve Pyle said: “This ground-breaking facility is custom-designed by foodservice distribution professionals and incorporates design and technology which will enable us to provide exceptional services and a better customer experience across our value chain. It will optimise our operational efficiency and enable us to offer our discerning customers the freshest, top quality ingredients.”
He added: “I would like to thank the DIP team for all the support they have extended to Chef Middle East throughout the development of this project. DIP has established itself as a preferred destination for businesses which operate cross-country and cross-border activities, offering some of the world's most advanced infrastructure and outstanding facilities tailored to suit the requirements of modern industries. Strategically situated between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates, DIP enjoys fabulous road networks that enable connectivity to regional and international transport linkages, including Jebel Ali Port, Al Maktoum Airport, Expo 2020 site, and other strategic developments. This offers businesses speedy access to key markets and makes it the ideal location for businesses with a regional footprint such as Chef Middle East.”
The purpose-built distribution hub is the first of its kind for the food industry in the region. It offers a fully integrated, technology enabled logistics centre, allowing Chef Middle East to offer an efficient and reliable end-to-end cold chain solution. The current distribution centre is triple the size of its predecessor and includes over 7,000 square metres of temperature-controlled storage areas that can accommodate up to 8,000 pallets of chilled, frozen, and ambient food and food related products. The new distribution centre features the latest technology in warehouse and fleet management systems, voice-pick technology, fleet GPS and a new culinary innovation centre. It also houses an open plan development kitchen stocked with equipment suitable for introducing and designing new food concepts under the supervision of a dedicated chef.
Chef Middle East offers over 4,000 global food products with a combination of premium quality ingredients for the regional culinary community. The company operates a fleet of 50 multi-temperature distribution vehicles.
McLaren Construction, the designer of the new facility, was recognised at the 2017 MEED Quality Awards for Projects for the Chef Middle East HQ and food cold storage, production & distribution facility project. The facility won the GCC Award for 'Best Small Project of the Year' for projects under $75 million.