Why did you establish Bin Mirza International (BMI)?
It was purely down to my personal eating-out preferences. While studying in the UK, I fell in love with the flavors of Nando’s but Oman didn’t have any outlets. So, I decided to bring Nando’s home with me. Essentially, I established Bin Mirza International to introduce new brands, while relating them to the taste and culture of the population in Oman.
What are the criteria according to which you select the international brands you bring to the Omani market?
I typically look for unique brands, those with strong values and that have credibility to their name. Because when it comes to dining, it’s about the entire experience, not just the food. I need to know that these brands are going to be able to deliver the genuine and high-quality experience we expect for our customers.
What does BMI’s retail footprint encompass?
Today, Bin Mirza International’s retail footprint encompasses six Second Cup cafés, including two franchise stores, in addition to five Nando’s restaurants, four Roselle Bakery Cafes and one Wagamama restaurant.
What are your plans for the future?
We recently announced the launch of our first stores in Salalah, in the Southern Governate of Dhofar; Second Cup, Nando’s and Roselle. We will continue looking for other avenues of expansion according to the market, while building on our legacy as a local company with world-class standards, empowering the local community with opportunities to set up their own franchise with us and contributing positively to the economy.
binmirza.com
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
