Saudi Arabia-based Innovative Foods, Inc. announced the opening of the 80th Shawarmer restaurant in the Kingdom with its first-ever airport installation in Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 5.
The KKIA location marks the sixth new Shawarmer restaurant that Innovative Foods has opened this year. That includes two new Shawarmer restaurants in Mecca as well as further expansion into Saudi’s Eastern Province. In addition, Innovative Foods was recently awarded rights to develop a new Shawarmer branch in King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, which is scheduled to open at the end of summer 2018.
Shawarmer has expanded from one location in Riyadh to 80 restaurants in 19 cities across the Kingdom. Overall Innovative Foods with Shawarmer and its other brands now employs more than 1,000 people, with more than 32% representing Saudi nationals.
“With Shawarmer, we believe we have captured a model that truly resonates with our Saudi customers. From day one, our focus has been on the shawarma as the hero of our menu. But it’s always been with a modern interpretation, experimenting with and introducing new variations in our hand-made sauces, marinades, fresh ingredients and signature sandwich styles that make Shawarmer as truly unique as it is authentic,” says Abdulmohsin Al-Rabiah, co-founder and CEO of Innovative Foods.
“That’s why we expect the new Riyadh King Khalid Airport restaurant to be a big success for us. We wanted to be in the domestic terminal where we believe the great growth we are seeing in Saudi nationals traveling within the Kingdom will enable us to broaden our exposure and introduce Shawarmer to a much larger customer base,” he adds.
Innovative Foods was founded by Saudi entrepreneurs, Al-Rabiah and long-time friend Ahmad Al Rasheed with two additional partners, opening their first restaurants in Riyadh in 1992 while still attending King Saud University. They launched Shawarmer in 1999, which they see as having great potential for expansion not only in Saudi Arabia’s growing fast-casual restaurant market but also in key regional and international markets.
“We are very optimistic about the continued economic growth opportunity of Saudi Arabia under our current leadership and Vision 2030. We are seeing that translate into a strong Saudi quick-serve restaurant industry,” states Innovative Foods co-founder Al Rasheed.
Watsons to open 20 new stores in the GCC
In 2020, global health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group signed its
April 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha B / 
What does it take to sustain profitable growth in the post-IPO phase?
Mahalle began its operations in 2022 as an “Authentic Turkish Grocery in
“Retail is a people’s business. When building a retail brand or the
From being one of the first retailers in Dubai to ban single-use
For starters, Rabbit is a growing e-commerce grocery platform in Egypt always
In 2024 grocery retail major Choithrams has achieved several milestones underscoring its
Industry pioneers are embracing a comprehensive strategy that integrates consumer insights, digital
The regional grocery retail market is evolving fast keeping pace with constantly
From ethical and local sourcing to adopting cutting-edge technologies to curb food
The regional grocery retail market is becoming more and more diverse, offering
Spinneys, the leading premium fresh food retailer, has announced the opening of
/ 
bkry, one of Alserkal Avenue’s newest residents, goes beyond the cookie cutter
Located at Kempinski Central Avenue, Zenon combines modern technology with luxurious dining,
Founded over 20 years ago by restaurateurs Alexey and Dmitry Vasilchuk, the
In what comes as a significant announcement, Middle East based eyewear majors
Founded in 2007 by Kim Thompson and Matt Toogood, UAE-based RAW Coffee
US-based company SAMBAZON, an acronym for ‘Sustainable Management of the Brazilian Amazon’,
Emirati Gen Z women are seeking collaborative, culturally diverse and creatively enriching
Yolk Brands’ remarkable journey began humbly in April 2019 with the launch
The UAE, particularly Dubai, is a melting pot of cultures. However, introducing
Rapidly expanding its presence in the region, Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons
Founded in 2010 by siblings Vivien and Howard Wong, Little Moons began
Previous Article
