Entrepreneurs Mr. Walid Hajj, Founder and Driving Force behind Dubai-based restaurant company Cravia and Mr. Fahad Alhokair, Founder of Riyadh-based private equity firm Veda Holding have joined to launch their new venture Kitch, the region’s first hybrid, delivery-focused, cloud kitchen and premium store-front operator in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Kitch, which is a combination of kitchen and technology is making its foray into the Food & Beverages (F&B) segment with an initial capital of $15 million.
Kitch’s tech-integrated, virtual restaurants and brick-and-mortar facilities enable brands state-of-the-art avenues to enter new markets as well as provide an option to diversify and scale their food delivery and customer engagement with minimal investment
The platform will offer an exclusive mix of new and existing brands in the region in addition to international franchises. The Kitch team will also focus on trialing out new restaurant concepts, menu items, and seasonal brands to deliver a differentiated customer experience.
The service is expected to open four delivery kitchens in Riyadh within the first quarter of 2021 with 15 more kitchens coming to the GCC region by the end of the year. Each delivery kitchen is spread over an area of 450 sq.m to 500 sq.m and is fully equipped to house around 10 food concepts.
Walid Hajj Co-Founder and CEO Kitch
“We are thrilled to launch the region’s first hybrid cloud-kitchen and premium store-front operator Kitch. Saudi Arabia and the UAE offer huge potential for this concept, and we are looking to be a part of an industry valued at over US$3 billion. With my experience in the food & beverage industry for more than two decades, I believe it is important to adapt and transform the offerings and services to be relevant and meet future demands.”
“Our operational value-chain model and carefully curated portfolio of brands will reimagine the restaurant experience, allowing consumers to enjoy high-quality food from the comfort and convenience of their homes, and at the same time provide food concept owners a platform to explore the market and increase their customer base beyond their physical locations. If a brand is part of our portfolio, we will make sure there is a scalable market ready for it,” Mr. Hajj added.
Speaking about the collaboration with the Cravia Founder, Mr. Fahad Alhokair, Co-Founder of Kitch remarked that “I am excited to join hands with Walid to embark on this new decade of F&B innovation and transformation. The food and beverages industry is ever-evolving, and it has become more apparent this year. We are constantly on the lookout for new investment opportunities and we see strong growth potential and bright future in the hybrid cloud-kitchen model of Kitch in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. We are looking to feature a diverse set of concepts to meet the changing trends and demographics that affect the F&B industry. Whether you are an entrepreneur thinking of opening your first food concept or an F&B leader who is looking to expand, Kitch’s flexible hybrid model will help you meet your purpose.”
Kitch’s experienced team of professional F&B operators, brand strategists, and technology specialists led by Chief Operating Officer, Yousef Al Barqawi will guide interested food concept owners, step by step towards launching a successful brand into the markets.
The omnichannel cloud kitchen framework offers an unparalleled advantage to entrepreneurs as they can test the waters of their food concept without making a full commitment.
