Why culinary connoisseurs in the region love Chef Middle East

With over 25 years in the F&B industry, Chef Middle East (Chef ME) is the leading distributor of speciality food and beverage products, serving chefs and culinary professionals with top-quality ingredients and cutting-edge foodservice kitchen solutions. The brand services more than 3,000 customers from five-star hotels and world-class dining destinations as well as international chains in the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

Chef ME also provides the same exceptional quality of service and products to customers in the Indian Ocean, Africa, and CIS.

 

Chef ME has long been the first choice for foodservice customers due to its exceptional service and portfolio of solutions in line with the global food trends. The distributor boasts of a strong range of culinary solutions from ten different categories including proteins and pastry to dairy and plant-based beverages. Helmed by an exceptional team of over 400 across the region, Chef ME is a top player in the food service market for hotels. In Q1 2022, Chef ME introduced its “Good Morning” series where it presented a wide range of breakfast solutions to the hotel channel in their operating markets. It showcased unique and premium products from renowned brands including Valrhona, Paysan Breton, Belberry Preserves, St Michel, Rude Health, Bridor and more.

Bader Rajab, Chef ME hotels channel manager said: “As an organisation, we prioritise delivering exceptional services to all our customers. Therefore, as a leading importer and distributor of the finest and freshest food from all over the world, we understand the need to also offer a competitive price across our markets.”

Chathura J. Dissanayaka, the executive pastry chef at Banyan Tree Doha At La Cigale Mushaireb, is an avid user of the distributor’s bakery and dessert ingredients. He said: “In all my 15 years of hotel experience in the Middle East, Chef ME is one of the best suppliers that always has my favourite chocolate brand and Sosa products. I love working with Chef ME and will always recommend them for their quality products.”

 

KEEPING UP WITH TRENDS

When it comes to end-consumers, there is no denying that the pandemic created a shift toward more healthy and sustainable living and eating practices. However, it’s clear that chefs and establishments won’t hesitate to spend more to make sure they have the best of the best ingredients. To meet the demands of the market, Chef ME has equipped its portfolio with innovative food solutions such as Nascita alternative sugar, organic acai and pitaya, vegan amatika milk chocolate from Valrhona, vegan muffins, gluten-free bread and more.

Samith James, the executive pastry chef at Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai and his team serves hundreds of guests every day. He said: “I have been working with Chef ME for over a decade, and I’m pleased to say that partnering with them has been one of the most remarkable and fulfilling experiences I’ve had in all my time in the Middle East.”

 

A BUSY FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

The World Cup has significantly increased demand for hotels, restaurants, and entertainment establishments in the region. The trend is expected to continue as Qatar capitalises on the attention the global event produces.

Per Ankersen, general manager at Chef ME in Qatar said: “The hotel industry and wider hospitality industry are seeing a high amount of concept expansions, new hotel openings and changes to existing outlets. All in all, the industry is right in front of the biggest service challenges it has ever faced in the Qatar market. Success will rest on hoteliers and operators’ planning, along with partnering closely with companies like Chef ME, who excel in service, deliver a high level of flexibility and who can scale activities in support of our client’s needs.”

The wide range of products along with its inventory will enable Chef ME to help the industry maximise the impact of this mega event. According to leaders at Chef ME, success is defined by how one maintains a high level of customer service; making sure that they have an advantage over others in the competitive market they operate in – and that is what the team at Chef ME strives for every day.