Opportunities for small brands

The current financial climate may put a cap on major expansion, but it could also force landlords to give young brands a chance.

Nigel Witham, a chartered designed who  runs his own design practice, noted that F&B fit-out business had not dried up — it was just coming from a different quarter.

“We have had…projects cancelled because of the recession,” he admitted. “On the other hand, there’s never been a better time for smaller clients to acquire premises from institutional landlords who wouldn’t usually return their calls.”

Dana Jallad, Dubai owner of the Sugar Daddy’s Bakery franchise, agreed that landlords would “take more chances” with new F&B brands in the current climate.

“Business is slow but it’s a good time to look at locally-grown brands and see where they could do well,” she asserted.

UAE brand Coffee Planet business development director Robert Jones added: “Leasing managers of malls traditionally don’t wish to support [small] brands, instead favouring international brands which are more widely recognised but, equally, stale. However, in the recent months of downturn…leasing managers have become more amenable.”

Witham said it was a situation where “the downturn had advanced an adjustment that was due anyway”.