Zaatar W Zeit Issue #83 | January & February 2017 Al Khobar Grand OPENING
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The latest buzz, news and outlook from inside the heart of Cravia. A monthly affair. Zaatar w Zeit Issue #83 | January & February 2017 Al Khobar Grand OPENING Five Guys Al Khobar Craving A+ Retail Sites Kickoff and Wall of Fame To participate in please send an e-mail to [email protected] CONTENTS 03 Zaatar w Zeit Al Khobar Grand opening 06 Five Guys Al Khobar - Kickoff 08 Craving A + Retail Sites 10 Valentine at ZwZ 11 Walid’s Column 12 Moussa’s column Wall of fame (Dec - Jan) 13 Birthdays (Jan & Feb) 14 Jan & Feb Sales reports 20 Quotes 20 Games 20 Fun Facts 20 2 ZAATAR W ZEIT AL KHOBAR GRAND OPENING Zaatar w Zeit Al Khobar Grand opening Zaatar w Zeit makes a grand entry into Al Khobar February 6th 2017 marked the grand opening of Zaatar w Zeit’s new branch in Al Khobar. This is ZwZ’s 1st branch out of Riyadh and 6th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The much-awaited launch from one of the most adored restaurant was welcomed wholeheartedly by customers who were anxiously waiting. Zaatar w Zeit Al Khobar branch is the 1st in the Eastern Province, located on Prince Faisal bin Fahd Street, also known as Pepsi Street. It can accommodate 180 customers, with more than 50 team members working to ensure that every customer gets to enjoy the fresh wholesome goodness in every bite. ISSUE #83 Jan & Feb 2017 | 3 The branch witnessed an official inauguration in the presence of Cravia family and the ZwZ team. Mr. Walid Hajj honoured the occasion by cutting the ceremonial ribbon along with his family members, and announced the official opening of Al Khobar branch. Once the store was officially opened, an appetising ZwZ dinner was served. Mr. Walid visited the kitchen and gave a motivational speech to all ZwZ Al Khobar staff, and also helped the team in preparing manoushe. In 2017, Zaatar w Zeit is looking forward to stretch its wings and open 4 more branches between Riyadh and Dammam, in order to satisfy the cravings of all ZwZ lovers. 4 ISSUE #83 Jan & Feb 2017 | 5 Al Khobar Kickoff and Wall of Fame 2017 Kick-Off Reflecting on the Past. Looking to the Future. On 18th January 2017, the 2017 Kick-Off Event was organised for the management team of Khobar. The objective of the event was to emphasise the culture of Cravia that started in UAE in 2001 and will reach Qatar and Bahrain in future. The sole objective of this initiative was to ensure that the team is well aware about the past & the future of Cravia, so they can get inspired and contribute to the vision and goals of the company. It is important that every team member is aware of the company’s culture and philosophy so that they can benefit from the system as well. The wall of fame was also launched on the occasion, emphasising that Cravia focuses on its people to walk the talk because “People are its Greatest assets”. In order to achieve its future goals, the team needs to be well equipped and must live the culture that was instilled over the last decade of business in the region. The company never misses a chance to recognise and acknowledge people who deserve to be recognised, making it clear that Cravia is built to last. 6 AWARDEES Toya Ram Rai: Marlon Tolibas: Romeo Roberts: Best Fries Man of The Year 2016 Best Grill Man of The Year 2016 Best Bun Grill Man of The Year 2016 Ramesh Yadav: Freddie Boy Mabuti: Aldrin Shiahay: Best Fries Man of The Year 2016 Best Preparation Man The Year 2016 Best Burger Dressing Man of The Year 2016 Jonald Pedeglorio: Mohamed Ahmed: Mohammed Charif: Best Support Manager The Year 2016 Best Manager The Year 2016 Best Creative Manager The Year 2016 ISSUE #83 Jan & Feb 2017 | 7 Craving A Retail Sites +Retail and mall stores account for over 75% of Focus Brands International store development. For this Best Practice we wanted to bring to you some tricks of the trade. To learn from a Q1. Please tell me a bit about how Cravia came master, we interviewed Marwan Kandeel, Multi- to be a Cinnabon Franchisee? Brand Manager for Cravia, Inc., one of our most successful Franchisees. Throughout the interview Cravia is owned by United Group which was we discussed securing exceptional mall locations established in 1976. 16 years ago, in 2000, for all three brands, as well as building and I was hired as part of the team to open the 1st maintaining successful long-term relationships Cinnabon bakery in the UAE. Our goal was to be with landlords, which is key to accessing the the most modern bakery, hire the best staff while highest quality sites in any market. Cravia Inc. truly understanding what our customers wanted currently operates 60 locations, with Cinnabon - then deliver it consistently. The goal was to get representing over 50% of this share. With over the right team and systems in place with one 30 stores, Cinnabon’s market penetration is 1 per overarching vision: to select unique, iconic brands 200k people. This has been attainable due to that others can’t replicate. We quickly recognised consistent store openings, 2-3 per year, and some that 75% of our customers don’t plan to visit us, of the highest transaction counts we have seen but make their purchase on impulse. We thought internationally. about how to be unique and standout. We did this through AAA+ sites with high visibility and traffic, a modern look and feel, clear visible signage, well-studied lighting balance with, above all, an exceptional product and service. If you can provide this under one roof, they will come. Most importantly, when you are running a business, you can’t afford to have a bad location. Along with great operations, your site determines your success. Q2. Can you tell us about some challenges you have faced as you’ve grown over the past 16 years? Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Cravia is dedicated to Franchising and we faced a number of closures during crisis years. We decided to turn hard times around by considering how we could take advantage of the real estate “If you can pick your market. We strategically opened 9 stores in prime locations when everyone else was closing. neighbour, it’s not the Sometimes when the market is down you need to take risks and use it to your advantage. How did best site” we pass through this tough time? No hiring, no ~Marwan Kandeel, Cravia compromising quality. We focused on operating 8 Q5. What are the most important factors to secure the best sites? What locations do you prefer? “If you are not growing You have to take risk, nothing worthwhile has zero risks. In 2007/2008, we secured a very high your brands, you are profile, expensive site just in front of tallest tower in world, as well as a 2nd site in the buildings dying” food court. We thought the expensive site would ~Marwan Kandeel, Cravia be the #1store. When it opened we quickly realized the entrance to food court had the highest traffic, and we decided to keep both due to the expenses and getting the best sites at the lowest brand exposure and marketing opportunity. Do price looking toward the future. your homework when developing a site, plan ahead, ask friends, watch the site, count the traffic, consider the days and dayparts, walk by Q3. How have you been able to consistently the site and each time you will see something. open so many profitable stores year after year? Maintain a pipeline. That allows you more time Maintaining a pipeline at least 2 times your to evaluate a site. In general, our stores are the budget. That’s the trick. Most landlords make you entrance to food courts have the most traffic. We rent and commit to March, but in the UAE, Malls look at our customers as A+, A, B, B+ (B’s have open in May. Your commitments are being made, highest frequency) and C. A and A+ do not always if the budget is 3 stores, you need to have 6 stores go to food courts and prefer fine dining, but may in the pipeline. You need to encourage all players crave our product and purchase on impulse. At to have double their budget at all times. Next the entrance to the food court, or high traffic year we are scheduled for 2 locations in Qatar, mall entrance, we capture all customers, the high those leases are signed. We always plan 2 years frequency B and B+, as well as A, A+ and C. ahead. In 2016, we identified and secured sites for 2017-18. I always have a secured pipeline, leases signed, initial opening date identified with 50/50 Q6. Do you have any special tips or probability for early 2017. This is a discipline every development advice you can share with other franchisee must have to secure the best sites to franchisees based on your success? grow strategically. The best sites go early. Having Store design, maintenance and keeping the image a strong relationship with mall leasing managers current go hand in hand with profitable mall make you the 1st they call. development. If you are approaching high traffic malls asking for the best sites and not delivering a high quality product, the leasing manager will not Q4. Cravia has impressive market penetration be excited. Don’t forget, the mall leasing manager in the UAE, what effect, if any, has this had on is your customer.