Middle East Food Forum
DAY 1 AGENDA | DAY 2 AGENDA | DAY 3 AGENDA
Day 1 - Saturday, April 27th, 2019: Core Themes: Challenges, Financing and Marketing
MC: Georgina Learman, Managing Partner, Creative Intelligence
12.00pm - 12.20pm: GCC F&B Market Landscape – What’s up?
Abdul Kader (Aboudi) Saadi Founder and Managing Director, Glee Hospitality Solutions
As competition in the market intensifies, untapped opportunities in mid-market F&B are impacting the industry as a whole. With price continuing to play a significant role in attracting and retaining guests, this session addresses the realities we are facing as F&B owners in a saturated market. With two decades of experience bringing both standalone F&B concepts and hotel restaurant outlets to life, this regional expert of the highest order provides much needed clarity on what it takes to move forward both as a brand and as an industry.
12.25pm – 1.00pm: Panel Discussion: The Demand`vs Supply debate in UAE F&B
Moderator:
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Stefan Breg, Serial restaurant concept creator and strategist, Keane Brands
Panelists:
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Naim Maadad, Chief Executive Officer, Gates Hospitality
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Sajan Alex, Vice President Operations, Tablez Food
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George Kunnapally, Managing Director, Nando's UAE LLC
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Marvin Alballi, Director of Restaurants & Bars - IHG
1.05pm – 1.30pm: Spotlight Keynote - Creating a World Class Gastronomy Destination
Darren Tse, Commercial Director – Concessions, Dubai Expo 2020
1.35pm - 2.10pm: Panel Discussion: Financing in the F&B sector
Moderator:
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Naveed Dowlatshahi, Kash Global Group
Panelists:
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Duncan Fraser-Smith, Director, Global Food and Beverage, The First Group
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Omer Aslan Gurel, Co-founder & CEO, Repeat
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Nader Bassit, CEO, Wakira Investments
2.15pm – 2.55 pm: Pitch Presentation: Five (5) Food Tech Pitches
Moderator:
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Sameer Sortur, Founder and CEO, SquareCircle Tech
Panelists:
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Benjamin Mouflard, Co-founder, ChatFood
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Rida Abi Farraj, General Manager, IoT Plus Middle East LLC
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John Balian, CEO BIM POS
3.00pm – 3.35pm: Panel Discussion: Smart Marketing and the Role of Videos
Moderator:
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Martin Kubler, General Manager, CEO, sps:affinity
Panelists:
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Reim El Houni, Executive Producer and CEO, Ti22 Films and dubai ON demand
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Prafull Dwivedi, Director, FoodKraft International
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Sajith Ansar, Founder & CEO, Idea Spice
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Ketaki Shah, Marketing & PR Manager, Nando's UAE LLC
3.40pm – 4.15pm: Panel Discussion: Launching a startup – how do you transform your idea into a business?
Moderator:
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Karthik Ramamurthy, Regional Director& Head, IPSOS
Panelists:
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John Balian, CEO, BIM POS
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Murad Alnasur, Managing Director, Restonalysis Hospitality
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Firas Alsahin, Co-Founder, Design Director, 4SPACE Design
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Jaydeep Anand, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Five Palm Jumeirah Hotel & Resorts