Read our insights

We are pleased to share the latest edition of our quarterly F&B publication, offering insights into the economic outlook and key trends in the regional F&B sector for 2025 and beyond.

We are pleased to announce our latest publication on the F&B sector, offering industry insights and expert commentary on F&B in the region, including its financial outlook. The UAE’s Food and Beverage (F&B) sector is projected to achieve revenues of USD 38.3 billion by the end of 2024. In particular, food tech is attracting government and investor attention, in alignment with the UAE’s National Strategy for Food Security. In this edition, we also spoke with Khaled Fadly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaledfadly/), CEO of Epik Foods (https://www.linkedin.com/company/epikfoodss/), the UAE and KSA-based F&B group, to learn about his journey from the corporate world to becoming a successful F&B entrepreneur. Khaled shares his journey into the F&B sector and the challenges faced and successes achieved along the way. He also discusses key considerations for companies looking to expand internationally and outlines Epik Foods’ future plans.

The Food and Beverage (F&B) sector has continued to grow and show resilience to macro-economic headwinds in 2023, evidenced by strong deal flow and capital raisings in the UAE and broader GCC. Following on from our Q1 2023 update, we are delighted to share our latest F&B edition, summarising key themes, issues and activity in the sector.

The Food and Beverage (F&B) sector has continued to grow and show resilience to macro-economic headwinds in 2023, evidenced by strong deal flow and capital raisings in the UAE and broader GCC. Following on from our Q1 2023 update, we are delighted to share our latest F&B edition, summarising key themes, issues and activity in the sector.

M&A continued to prosper in the first five months of 2022 after a record-breaking year in 2021, although the 16 June 2022 US Federal Reserve Bank interest rate increase coupled with increased macroeconomic uncertainty marked a significant turning point for the global deal market.

Heading towards the new year, food security remains on top of the agenda for the region, while enhancements in food tech, and the continued rise of meat and dairy alternatives providing have proved to be a nifty tool to combat lingering supply chain and labor shortages and addressing food security.

Despite the recent global market downturn and recession fears, economic sentiment remains strong within the GCC region on the back of growth in the tourism and oil.

Spurred on by government initiatives and the emergence from COVID-19, the GCC IPO markets are now seeing unprecedented levels of activity, captivating institutional and retail investors alike.

Q1 has seen a continued rise in deal activity in a number of sectors within our M&A and Transactions Advisory team. Following on from our Q4 2021 update, we are delighted to share this quarter's Food & Beverage (F&B) edition, summarising key themes, issues and activity in the sector. It has been a busy start to the year in F&B across the GCC and broader MENA region and we will continue to watch closely throughout the year.

Our M&A and Transactions Advisory team actively originates and executes transactions across a range of sectors. Some of the current as well as recently completed transactions include businesses in logistics, technology, real estate, food & beverage, healthcare, education, financial services and energy sectors.

Read about the recent developments about VAT in the UAE as well as GCC updates in this VAT Alert.

Read the latest news about VAT in the UAE and GCC region in this edition of VAT Alert.

F&B companies are using international expansion to chase profits globally.

The food and beverage industry is poised for growth around the globe. After years of uncertainty, retrenchment and delayed investments, industry executives are once again looking to invest in new products, new capacity, new distribution channels and new markets. Even in countries still shaking off the recession, executives expect growth and plan to capture market share at home and abroad.