The state of the franchise market
The president of the Lebanese Franchise Association (LFA), Yahya Kassaa, talks to HN about some of the most interesting local and international franchises currently in operation, the top-performing F&B brands, the challenges operators face, alongside possible solutions, and the association’s past and future targets
Regional F&B groups – The five-year challenge
F&B operators and investors in the region have certainly faced turbulent times in recent years. Fortunately, there’s still good news to share, despite the difficulties, as Toufic Akl, partner, operations, at Hodema Consulting Services, reveals
Marc Chehade and the secret of MEC’s success
He entered the Lebanese F&B industry in 2000, when still fairly young and studying for a civil engineering degree at LAU. Being a nightlife enthusiast himself, Marc Chehade decided to set up a company called Managing and Engineering F&B Concepts (MEC) and, as CEO, opened the first bar in Monot Street, named Rounders
A comprehensive perspective
The US-based National Restaurant Association (NRA) is the largest foodservice trade association in the world, supporting nearly 500,000 restaurant businesses. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research at the NRA, discusses the factors to consider, before taking the franchising plunge
Protect your brand: Trademark registration
A trademark can protect the name and logo of a franchise, its products and its services. Anticipating brand protection is crucial. Michel Nassar, attorney-at-law and of counsel at SAAS Lawyers, tells us how to protect our most valued asset
Hygiene – Survival of the Cleanliest
Hygiene is an issue of concern to all of us, especially owners and operators of hospitality establishments. Ensuring the quality and cleanliness of both the environment and edibles being served is paramount to the success of daily operations and continued growth of a brand. With this in mind, HN talked to some of the country’s most active players on the hygiene scene to discover more about the initiatives, strategies and services they offer
Hygiene – Ditching the Dirt
With below-par cleanliness and poor hygiene risking significant repercussions for an establishment, ongoing training, supervision, inspection systems and new innovations all have an essential part to play in today’s regimes
Hygiene – A holistic approach
The Preverisk Group, an international consultancy group specializing in health and safety solutions for the tourism sector, was appointed by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism in October to assess hotels in Hurghada, in line with the Structural Reform Program aimed at enhancing the tourism sector’s competitiveness and following an incident at an establishment there. Dr. Ahmed Karam, Preverisk Egypt operations and business manager, discusses the scope of the task with HN and why the group prefers to support, rather than police clients
Coffee & Tea – Barista HORECA Judge
HORECA Lebanon Barista judge Anthony Bedoyan spills the beans , and Emma Sade, winner HORECA Lebanon Barista Competition 2017, talks about a different take on coffee preparation
