Locale wants to create a community for local ‘food entrepreneurs’ to sell their goods and let their brand flourish
Published: Saturday 26 February 2022, 11:49 pm
Locale is the UAE’s first food aggregator at heart, and aims to create a community for local ‘food entrepreneurs’ to sell their goods and allow their brand to flourish.
The concept was launched in January at Dubai Caterer Middle East.
It has brought another great brand under its wing, Viking Bageri, a homely artisanal baguette bakery that offers a mix of sweet and savory baked offerings.
The ‘Foodpreneur-Focused Ecosystem’ platform by KRUSH Brands provides resources to champion home businesses and enable them to become more resilient and fully integrate their customer relationships with the brand and operations with proprietary technology and delivery science.
Ohan spent much of his early professional career in the real estate and hospitality investment and development markets in North America and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. He has held leadership positions at companies such as KPMG, Arthur Andersen and Al Futaim Investments.
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“My unplanned departure from my early career ambitions saw me pursue a senior position with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, where I began my career in operations. It was only in 2004 that I began my entrepreneurial journey and started a real estate venture. and joined two partners in the hospitality investment services startup (which was acquired by Jones Lang LaSalle). In 2009, I returned to my roots in food and drink and what is known today as Freedom Pizza, Which has become a crush brand and locale,” he said.
“When I first got into entrepreneurship, the primary challenge was finding the courage to sacrifice a generous executive compensation and the security of an upward career trajectory. As with all startups, the challenges were many, and one important thing. It was to grow and manage a company from three to more than 40 people in a short period. It was a transition from working within a well defined and broader corporate environment to being responsible for all aspects of the business , while still following the vision and leadership.
“Learning when and how to ‘swoop’ and ‘bounce’ was an important lesson,” he said.
Concept
“Locale is an economically sustainable ecosystem for innovative food entrepreneurs to thrive and reconnect with the communities in which they operate. For food entrepreneurs, Locale is a completely comprehensive platform that we started with. Our own brands (Freedom Pizza, Salad Jar, Wildflower Poke, Coco Yogo and Vegan Kitchen) in the U.S., which combine our own food technology, brands, and our professional and proprietary distribution capabilities. To customers, across locales There is a highly curated group of favorite and like-minded food brands, and the ability to present 20 unique, personalized brands for them to experience. Locale is not about delivery, technology, advertising nor making money on fees ( Our aim is to reduce these costs for everyone. The locale is all about making money on great food,” he said.
Finding New Food Entrepreneurs
Ohan said: “The differentiated proposition of the locale’s true partnerships and bottom-line focused economic alignment has been well received in the foodpreneur market. The Foodie Community is a well-organized conglomerate dedicated to growing and scaling businesses. Looking for a better way. Our fully integrated business model is designed to be highly profitable for food entrepreneurs, while also providing attractive multi-kitchen and company-wide economics. Only 20 of the best brands in the locale Being highly selective allows us to be highly selective. At the heart of our decision-making process is an alignment of values with potential partners that focuses on excellent food, a fanatical approach to customers, and developing people. Locale, efficient (or New) is partnering with many amazing people, from chefs to established quality brands who care about their brand integrity, quality of service and professional delivery, seeking to own and lead a new venture.
According to Ohan, Locale is the only true alternative to the third-party delivery ecosystem.
“It is the true partnership model that frees us to enthusiastically apply the full breadth of our capabilities to our partners. In short, we treat them as ours. For foodpreneurs, this means we are in our multi-kitchen Pay all upfront capital investment for the brand, and provide them with our food technology platform, and proprietary and professional delivery team.Locale partner brands are also incorporated into exclusive locale marketplaces, as well as their own direct online web There is also an ordering presence. In addition, partners are backed by Locale’s extensive in-house corporate team and resources, including human resources, business licensing, learning and development, operations, finance and accounting, technology, design and development, As well as franchising, we include our exceptional in-house brand and marketing agency. As partners we also make co-investments to grow brands, and we expect all our partner brands to create their own unique and individual ambitions and destiny Enter the locale and move on. Great brands are made by great people,” he said.
latest acquisition
“We did not acquire Viking Bageri, we became an equity partner. The highpoint is undoubtedly the product. The Viking Bagri quite simply makes the best baguette I’ve ever tried, anywhere, period. When you combine this with our unique ability to deliver baguettes straight from the oven to your door, we create something special for bread lovers everywhere. On a more personal level, we are truly grateful to the wonderful founders of Viking for their trust, commitment and partnership as early adopters and believers in the locale. They help us be better together. It’s all about the journey and we are just at the beginning.”
Ohan believes the locale has a place in any community that appreciates good food, good people, and good ideas. So, as the locale is in the process of expanding into the wider MENA region, the time has come for a brilliant entrepreneurial idea.
