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Northern Ireland F&B would make it big in UAE: Al Maya

The UAE is an open market with immense opportunities for Northern Ireland food and drink companies, according to Kamal Vachani, group director of Dubai-based Al Maya Group.

Vachani was in Belfast recently to meet a group of 10 local firms set up by Invest Northern Ireland, and said the Al Maya Group was keen to source a wide range of food and soft drinks from there. He led a buying team that placed orders with most of the companies.

Kamal Vachani was in Belfast recently to meet a group of 10 local companies set up by Invest Northern Ireland. — Supplied photo

The Al Maya Group visit was among a series of “Meet the Buyer” missions from the UAE arranged by Invest Northern Ireland’s long-standing office in Dubai and hosted by the agency’s food team in Belfast. The Al Maya Group also included a senior representative from its UK business responsible for consolidating and shipping products regularly to Dubai for Al Maya stores, a fast service that makes it easier and cost-effective for Northern Ireland firms to serve the UAE market.

“The Al Maya Group is keen to talk to companies in virtually every food and drink category because our customer base is so diverse and includes a very significant grouping of expats from the UK, other parts of Europe and the US. Dubai is among the world’s most cosmopolitan centres,” Vachani said.

— business@khaleejtimes.com