What were your brand’s biggest achievements in 2021?
What were your brand’s biggest achievements in 2021? Last year was one defined by expansion; we launched three major brands in Dubai in the space of six months. Firstly, with our UAE-homegrown strategy firmly in place, we launched The Theater, which quickly became a beacon for those wishing to replicate its reputation for music and entertainment. Keeping with the Lebanese theme, we opened B018.dxb, influenced by the much-loved venue in Beirut, which has a place in the hearts of so many of us Lebanese. We took it, with its culture, art and underground music, to the 42nd floor of the Media One Hotel. A few weeks later, we introduced February 30, a fondly remembered Beirut bar, enhancing its image by creating a larger, improved beach bar and restaurant at Palm Jumeirah. In this short period, we also opened Le Rosé, our new French restaurant, at Address Fountain Views in Downtown Dubai.
Firstly, with our UAE-homegrown strategy firmly in place, we launched The Theater, which quickly became a beacon for those wishing to replicate its reputation for music and entertainment.
Keeping with the Lebanese theme, we opened B018.dxb, influenced by the much-loved venue in Beirut, which has a place in the hearts of so many of us Lebanese. We took it, with its culture, art and underground music, to the 42nd floor of the Media One Hotel. A few weeks later, we introduced February 30, a fondly remembered Beirut bar, enhancing its image by creating a larger, improved beach bar and restaurant at Palm Jumeirah. In this short period, we also opened Le Rosé, our new French restaurant, at Address Fountain Views in Downtown Dubai.
What can we expect from 7 Management in 2022?
As leaders in the food and beverage industry, we thrive on providing the best of the best for our guests and loyal customers. Therefore, we work on recreating our menus every once in a while to entice our guests to try out new flavors and tastes, and keep them coming back for innovative experiences. As leaders in the food and beverage industry, we thrive on providing the best of the best for our guests and loyal customers. Therefore, we work on recreating our menus every once in a while to entice our guests to try out new flavors and tastes, and keep them coming back for innovative experiences.
What makes your franchise ideal from an investor’s point of view?
The bottom line and the P&L are key factors. Manchising rather than franchising is spreading fast globally, and we support it. It is not only about financials anymore; the operator is now extremely involved personally. As owners, nobody knows our brands better than we do, especially when it comes to food and entertainment matters; understanding the core DNA of the brand and close follow up is essential if we are to have a win-win outcome. To emphasize our philosophy, all of our current deals are manchises.
Do you have any expansion plans or new projects in the pipeline?
In February 2022, we will introduce Lucia’s, an Italian restaurant, in Dubai. Lucia’s offers a dining experience that lives in the traditional past but is also enjoyed by the modern diner who seeks a taste of a bygone era. In the short term, we will be franchising Seven Sisters and Café Beirut to Qatar. Antika and Café Beirut have already opened in Riyadh and will soon be in Jeddah, while Antika will be franchised in Bahrain. Major targets in the pipeline now include Egypt, Greece and the UK.
Where do you envisage your brand in five years’ time?
From the start, our vision has been to evolve, to be scalable and have a strong presence in several markets. This entails expanding locally, in the region and then internationally. At the moment, we are active in Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Beirut. By 2023, we aim to have grown the brands, expanded through Europe and North America, turned a healthy profit and grown our brand equity.
RABIH FAKHREDDINE,
FOUNDER & CEO
7 MANAGEMENT
FOUNDER & CEO
7 MANAGEMENT
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
