Together, the companies will introduce an extensive premium range of high-quality preserves and delicacies based on fresh fruit and vegetables with a long ambient shelf life, aiming at raising the profile of the culinary scene on the Middle East market.

Thierry Vandererfven, Owner of Belberry preserves said: “This new partnership with Chef Middle East is very important as we think the Middle East market has a big potential with their hotels. For the moment we supply hotels all over the world from Europe (Belgium of course, Spain, the Netherlands, etc.) to Asia (South-Korea, Hong-Kong, etc.) to USA and Canada. We have found the right partner with Chef Middle East and we are looking for a long term and fruitful partnership. The first steps are already very promising.”

Vandererfven added: “Our biggest opportunity is that Belberry can offer a total package for the luxury hotels, from exquisite jams to acacia honey & chocolate spread as well as condiments ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard. Also available in different packaging.”

“Belberry Preserves are made of the highest quality ingredients and they’re gently produced to obtain the best taste possible. Always made in the same philosophy: cooked in small batches in a short boiling process, with well selected ingredients and all natural.  You will always find a very high percentage of fruit in all our products. No additives, colorings or food preservatives are used. Our main product group is jams in all sizes, from 28gr jars to 3kg buckets, but the very strength of Belberry is it’s wide assortment, from jams to fruit vinegars, to cheese parings, confits, fruit sauces, ketchups, preserved lemons, etc.” Vandererfven explains.

Jiji Mathews, Culinary Category Manager at Chef Middle East, believes this partnership will raise the bar for the premium preserves & delicacies in the market and contribute to the growth plan of Chef Middle East.

“Since the inception of the company in 1995, Chef Middle east has been a pioneer in introducing high-quality gourmet products to our strong client base in the region. With a legacy of over 60 years of producing high quality fruit preserves, Belberry was an obvious choice to include in our portfolio. Their range comes as a total solution by offering a complete line of jams, honey, spreads, condiments and spreads for the front of house and back of house offerings. The brand ensures to provide premium quality that hotels and restaurants would be proud to offer.” Mathews confirms.

“We see a trend in standalone restaurants, traditionally serving only lunch and dinner, now offering breakfast and brunch. Many of these restaurants are premium and are looking for high quality range of products. Belberry comes as a solution to the range they are looking for as part of the breakfast and brunch offering. Moreover, the range from Belberry also fits very well as accompaniments with cheese platters on menus.” Mathews explains.

Referring to a report issued by Al Masah Capital, the GCC’s foodservice sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 8% to reach USD 29.3 billion by 2020. The restaurant industry being one of the fastest growing sectors in the region, has marked a significant growth in the past few years to be valued, in the UAE alone, at USD 13.2 billion.

Noteworthy investments are placed in the hotel sector as well, confirming a hub for hospitality brands in the region, which will reflect a positive impact on the food services sector.

Based on these numbers and with an abundance of confidence, both companies foresee a flourishing growth on the market for the years to come.

Chef Middle East looks forward to developing its partnerships, enriching its brands and products portfolio and maintaining excellence in service quality to remain the preferred one-stop solution foodservice distributor in the market.

Both companies are pleased to announce their participation at the world’s largest annual food & beverages trade show “Gulfood” from the 17^th to the 21^st of FEBRUARY 2019 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Chef Middle East will be on Booth No 651, Hall 6 and Belberry Preserves on Booth No. S2-C57 Sheikh Saeed Halls, Belgian pavilion.

 

About Belberry Preserves:

“The history of Belberry began when my father André Vandererfven acquired a small gourmet store, dating from the end of the 19th century, in the West Flemish city of Kortrijk, Belgium. He started producing fruit preserves for the local market. In 1990, I took over the business, expanded homemade production and began exporting the delicious preserves globally.

Today, you will find Belberry’s unique products in the world’s finest department stores, hotels and delis. Nothing beats the exquisite taste of traditionally made food, carefully crafted with the finest ingredients and utmost love.” Thierry Vandererfven

 

About Chef Middle East:

Since 1995, Chef Middle East is a leading importer and distributor of the finest quality foods and beverages to the hotel, dining and catering industries in the Middle East. As a leading speciality broadliner, Chef Middle East offers its discerning clients an exceptional blend of premium quality and value ingredients, through its state-of-the art logistics network making it the one-stop solution for all food and beverage requirements in the GCC region.

Chef Middle East lists over 4,000 of the world’s leading food products from many European and Asian countries. Its 300-strong dedicated employees work closely with vendors, partners and customers to provide best-in-class import, warehousing and distribution solutions across the eight product categories. The company services more than 1,000 customers from its headquarters in the UAE and its key branches in the GCC.