CEO Insights Magazine

The greatest of entrepreneurial ideas are more often the result of passion and the enthusiasm to turn the passion into a business venture. Rabih Daher, CEO, Global Catering Services is one such entrepreneur who built his passion for food into a global service. With his deep rooted experience and abundant knowledge of the food industry, he came up with the idea of bringing together the unique tastes of different parts of the world under one roof. His extensive market research and analysis of the customer's needs led him to develop numerous new concepts in the Food industry. Today, Rabih provides the customers with the traditional authenti city of Moroccan, Mediterranean, Turkish, and Lebanese culture through his restaurants.

Being a food lover himself, Rabih has a fine taste in the selection of recipes, cutleries, interiors of the restaurants and he personally looks into the safety and quality of the food that is delivered to his customers. He has set an example in the Global Catering industry by executing successful events with his elegant style of catering that is tailored according to the needs of his customers. He aims to preserve the traditional tastes in his food brands and also focuses on customer satisfaction in order to build long term relationships. Below is an excerpt of Rabih's interaction with CEO Insights.

Take us through your professional journey in the Food & Beverages industry? What inspired you to venture into this domain?
I come from a family where every occasion is a celebration. Since my childhood I have been an active participant in all the family gatherings and traditional events.

I always had a fetish for food. As I grew up, I developed my love for creating unique recipes. Within no time, my love for food turned into my ultimate passion. This is when I took up a Hotel Management course in the year 2007. I went to Cornell University, where I pursued a Master's Degree in Hospitality Management. Later on, I completed my MBA from Lebanese American University as well. I have a long professional experience in the Food and Beverages industry. I have been the General Manager in National Arab Company for Restaurant Management, and at present, I am the CEO of Global Catering Services for more than six years now. I believe my passion to see other people enjoying my recipes is the utmost reason that drove me to this industry.

Define Global Catering Services as an organization. What are its unique propositions?
Global Catering Services is one of the largest and fastest growing food companies in the UAE. Apart from revamping restaurants and reintroducing them better than ever, we also have a talent for creating our own unique concepts. We offer an extensive menu for corporate and private occasions, and have provided our catering services to numerous esteemed clients. Our services range from restaurants, catering services, FMCG services, retail, manufacturing and distribution of brands. The company provides an extraordinary experience to its customers ensuring complete satis faction.

What are the milestones that have provided you with utmost satisfaction? Also tell about the different certifi cations that you have received.
I have been successfully able to build restaurants providing customers with the authentic Moro

ccan, Mediterranean, Turkish and Lebanese concepts. We have built numerous brands across the world and are now moving towards Egypt, the UK and the US to cater our services there as well.

Another great milestone is my ability to build an excellent team that provides the best of services to our customers. As far as certifications are concerned, I have received a certificate of Expert in Managing Crises and Emergencies from International Management Advance College. I have an international license for entrepreneurship provided by Boston University.And I also have an Inter national Business Certificate received from the London School of Business & Finance.

With respect to the company's future roadmap, what are your goals and how would you like to take them forward?
We aim at renovating many more brands in the future and reinstating them with a touch of our signature flair, in the hopes of providing vibrant and multi cultural residents of the UAE a taste of the best. Global Catering Services strives to constantly reach the demands of the ever growing Food & beverages market, while maintaining the quality of service. We want to grow a lot more of our brands and services in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt and London. We aim to self build an unrivalled journey that brings together culture as well as hand crafted, fresh and distinguished food experience. Through our choice of restaurants and cuisine, our mission is to create an overall experience that allows our customers to escape their fast track life and step into a robust variety of flavors and traditions passed on from many generations.

Rabih Daher, CEO, Global Catering Services
Having a deep rooted experience in Food, Beverage and Hospitality Management, Rabih successfully operates food & beverage outlets, retail and wholesale as well as manufacturing food products globally.