Sydney food company a hit in the Middle East

16 Aug 2011

Jones the Grocer was launched in Sydney in 1996 and is a food emporium focused on providing natural ingredients produced by specialist, artisan suppliers in a contemporary designed cafe. In the past few years it has successfully grown its business in the Middle East.

With an initial investment of A$12 million, the franchise venture became an overnight success earning a yearly turnover of A$6.5 million through its first two stores in Abu Dhabi.

It plans to expand into more locations in the Middle East in the near-term future, has branches in New Zealand and Singapore, and operates in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Its recently-opened Dubai café boasts over a 1000 different products, of which 80 per cent is imported from Australia. It has products such as premium tea leaves, luxury chocolates, artisan crackers and handmade pasta sauces.

Managing Director of Jones the Grocer in the Middle East, Mr Yunib Siddique, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based entrepreneur, acquired the franchise rights to open Jones the Grocer cafés in the region. Mr Siddique was attracted by the innovative concept and the flexibility of the franchise model after reading about the company in a magazine editorial in 2008.

Expanding the franchise throughout the Middle East was an attractive option for the company, as it recognised a growing food and beverage sector in the region, including an interest in gourmet foods.

Austrade Dubai played a pivotal role assisting Jones the Grocer with business registration and food approvals from Dubai Municipality. A recipient of the prestigious Time Out Café of the Year 2010 award, Jones the Grocer is a favourite amongst food lovers in the UAE, including the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.