Food & FMCG

Foodics, the leading restaurant operations and payment technology provider in the MENA region, successfully launched the inaugural edition of its exclusive industry event, “The F&B Circle”, in Dubai. Held on June 25, 2025, in partnership with the Fast Food & Cafe Convention (FFCC), the event spotlighted business scalability, data-driven leadership, and the official debut of ‘Foodics BI’, a new AI-powered business intelligence solution designed for restaurant management.

Revolutionizing Restaurant Management with AI

Under the theme “The Control Room”, the invite-only gathering was hosted at Warehouse Four in Al Quoz and featured a live demo of Foodics BI. This cutting-edge tool offers restaurateurs a simplified yet powerful way to analyze real-time operations data, with features including AI-based inventory forecasting, live dashboards, sales projections, alerts, and natural language queries—accessible on both web and mobile platforms.

George Henin, Head of Foodics BI, described the tool as a “game-changer” for the F&B industry:

“You don’t need to be a data scientist to make smart, fast decisions. We built Foodics BI to empower every entrepreneur with instant access to actionable insights.”

Building Connections and Scaling with Data

Belal Zahran, Managing Director for Foodics International (Egypt & UAE), opened the event, emphasizing the importance of creating forums for industry professionals to exchange ideas, share challenges, and drive innovation.

“The F&B Circle reflects our commitment to supporting the UAE’s thriving restaurant sector by equipping businesses with future-ready technology.”

A key highlight was a panel discussion featuring prominent voices such as:

• Saleh Al Samadi, Owner, Al Samadi Group

• Santosh D'Souza, International Director of Development, Tigrus Restaurant Holding

• Karim Chaanine, Chief Marketing Officer, PJP Investment Group
  Moderated by Akhilesh Bahl, CEO of Malt & Salt Hospitality, the session addressed how structured systems, empowered teams, and consistent branding help restaurants scale sustainably.

Fireside Chats and Real-World Experiences

The event also hosted a fireside chat with Celebrity Chef Ali Yazdi, Founder of Aleez Hospitality, and Hayder Nashie, CEO of Dash Hospitality Group. Moderated by Belal Zahran, the conversation delved into the behind-the-scenes challenges of launching food and beverage (F&B) concepts, emphasizing the importance of consistency, patience, and building customer trust.

Karim Chaanine further highlighted how AI is reshaping consumer experience in the delivery sector:

“At Papa John's, AI tools help us personalize the customer journey through order history analysis. It’s about using technology to connect meaningfully, not just efficiently.”

Looking Ahead

Foodics plans to host additional editions of The F&B Circle, building a thought leadership platform that nurtures collaboration and insight sharing within the F&B sector. With the launch of Foodics BI, the company reinforces its mission to help restaurants across the UAE and MENA region leverage technology for smarter operations, improved efficiency, and sustainable growth.

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