Food & Beverage

Challenges

The Food and Beverage industry in the UAE has established its dominance over the middle east over the past decade. Dubai in particular continues to attract international & home-grown F&B brands, as it is a melting pot of cultures. Due to a global economic slowdown people are becoming cautious spenders and have reduce the splurge on overly expensive dining. According to a recent study 81% of the people claimed that they eat outside as much as they did in 2016, if this is the case why is there a decline in profit margins. This is primarily got to do with the supply side, as the demand for food orders remaining almost the same as previous years, there is an oversupply of restaurants in the country. As a result each restaurant on its own is not very profitable. A recent study done by JLL claim that the retail space for leasing is going to increase by 1.5 million square km by 2019. Addition to this the rising cost of overheads to run business as well as earning profits adds to the burden.

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FOOD BEVERAGECHALLENGES

The recent implementation of VAT in the UAE has also taken a toll on the F&B industry, which has further suppressed their operating margins.

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Looking ahead operators will need to proceed cautiously while striving for greater efficiencies, to be selective and meticulous in pricing & promotional offers, location selection, and new brand launches. Even though the market will eventually pick up due to the upcoming Expo 2020 and the market looks favorable in the long run, it should be a little cautious at the rate they are increasing footprint in the short run. The Food and Beverage industry is exposed to changing tastes and trends. Businesses have to constantly adapt to these changes which can be difficult especially if they do not possess experience in such areas.