Food and Hospitality Director - MENA Markets
Join Al-Futtaim Group in Dubai and lead the strategic transformation of the food and hospitality business across seven countries. This senior leadership opportunity offers full P&L ownership, brand innovation, and category expansion while managing cross-functional teams to drive performance, efficiency, and scale across the MENA region.
Job Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Industry: Retail and Food Services
Job Function: Food Business Strategy and Category Leadership
Job Type: Full-time Executive Role
Salary: Negotiable
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Candidate Current Location: Preferably UAE or willing to relocate
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Why Should You Consider This Opportunity?
- Spearhead the regional food strategy for a globally respected brand
- Lead end-to-end food category operations including sourcing, innovation, digital expansion, and multi-market entry
- Collaborate with global brand principals and influence strategic direction in high-growth MENA markets
What Does a Food and Hospitality Director Do in a Regional Retail Setting?
The Food and Hospitality Director is responsible for shaping the long-term business model for M&S Food across the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, and KSA. This role involves leading P&L performance, optimizing local sourcing networks, launching new formats and digital channels, and ensuring consistent delivery of brand excellence.
Key Responsibilities in This Role
Business Planning and Leadership
- Own and deliver the regional food P&L with a sustainable and scalable stand-alone model
- Transform M&S Food strategy to fit the evolving Middle East retail landscape
- Define sourcing frameworks and local supplier networks that ensure high-margin product delivery
- Collaborate with UK principals to align strategic vision and product execution
- Prepare market entry strategies for new territories and store formats
Category Development and Commercial Strategy
- Drive innovation across the food and hospitality categories with support from AI and data analytics
- Lead range reviews, supplier negotiations, pricing, and promotional strategies
- Launch high-performing food products tailored to regional customer insights
- Align food planning with customer behavior trends, seasonal campaigns, and digital initiatives
- Ensure merchandising, display standards, and customer experience reflect brand values
Team Management and Cross-Market Execution
- Manage and guide commercial, buying, and operations teams across seven countries
- Lead modernization programs for food stores and food halls
- Work closely with property and store development teams on expansion and renovation projects
- Develop internal talent pipelines and ensure alignment across all MENA food retail functions
Financial Oversight and Governance
- Implement robust cost control practices, including cost-benefit analysis and risk mitigation
- Monitor operational performance and ensure compliance with local regulations and brand guidelines
- Deliver consistent profitability while scaling up the business through new channels and partnerships
What Are the Key Requirements for This Executive Role in Dubai?
- 16+ years of experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership within retail food operations
- Strong background in food sourcing, supply chain, product innovation, and brand compliance
- Proven track record managing large teams and delivering P&L success across multiple markets
- Expertise in category management, market entry strategy, and customer analytics
- Experience working with global brand principals and adapting international strategies for local execution
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced business qualifications preferred
- Deep passion for the food retail sector and a data-driven, customer-centric leadership approach
What Benefits Come with This Executive Opportunity?
- Executive-level leadership role in one of the most recognized family businesses in the UAE
- Lead food and hospitality transformation across 7 regional markets
- Full ownership of strategic food retail performance including digital, sourcing, and operations
- Collaborate directly with brand leaders and global stakeholders to drive innovation
- Competitive compensation and opportunity for long-term career progression
About the Company
Al-Futtaim Group is one of the Middle East's most diversified and respected privately-owned businesses. Headquartered in Dubai and operating in over 20 countries, Al-Futtaim partners with world-class brands across five divisions: Automotive, Financial Services, Real Estate, Retail, and Healthcare. Through a legacy of excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Al-Futtaim continues to deliver solutions that improve the everyday lives of customers across the region.
Job Title Food and Hospitality Director - MENA Markets
Food and Hospitality Director - MENA Markets
Join Al-Futtaim Group in Dubai and lead the strategic transformation of the food and hospitality business across seven countries. This senior leadership opportunity offers full P&L ownership, brand innovation, and category expansion while managing cross-functional teams to drive performance, efficiency, and scale across the MENA region.
Job Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Industry: Retail and Food Services
Job Function: Food Business Strategy and Category Leadership
Job Type: Full-time Executive Role
Salary: Negotiable
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Candidate Current Location: Preferably UAE or willing to relocate
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Why Should You Consider This Opportunity?
- Spearhead the regional food strategy for a globally respected brand
- Lead end-to-end food category operations including sourcing, innovation, digital expansion, and multi-market entry
- Collaborate with global brand principals and influence strategic direction in high-growth MENA markets
What Does a Food and Hospitality Director Do in a Regional Retail Setting?
The Food and Hospitality Director is responsible for shaping the long-term business model for M&S Food across the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, and KSA. This role involves leading P&L performance, optimizing local sourcing networks, launching new formats and digital channels, and ensuring consistent delivery of brand excellence.
Key Responsibilities in This Role
Business Planning and Leadership
- Own and deliver the regional food P&L with a sustainable and scalable stand-alone model
- Transform M&S Food strategy to fit the evolving Middle East retail landscape
- Define sourcing frameworks and local supplier networks that ensure high-margin product delivery
- Collaborate with UK principals to align strategic vision and product execution
- Prepare market entry strategies for new territories and store formats
Category Development and Commercial Strategy
- Drive innovation across the food and hospitality categories with support from AI and data analytics
- Lead range reviews, supplier negotiations, pricing, and promotional strategies
- Launch high-performing food products tailored to regional customer insights
- Align food planning with customer behavior trends, seasonal campaigns, and digital initiatives
- Ensure merchandising, display standards, and customer experience reflect brand values
Team Management and Cross-Market Execution
- Manage and guide commercial, buying, and operations teams across seven countries
- Lead modernization programs for food stores and food halls
- Work closely with property and store development teams on expansion and renovation projects
- Develop internal talent pipelines and ensure alignment across all MENA food retail functions
Financial Oversight and Governance
- Implement robust cost control practices, including cost-benefit analysis and risk mitigation
- Monitor operational performance and ensure compliance with local regulations and brand guidelines
- Deliver consistent profitability while scaling up the business through new channels and partnerships
What Are the Key Requirements for This Executive Role in Dubai?
- 16+ years of experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership within retail food operations
- Strong background in food sourcing, supply chain, product innovation, and brand compliance
- Proven track record managing large teams and delivering P&L success across multiple markets
- Expertise in category management, market entry strategy, and customer analytics
- Experience working with global brand principals and adapting international strategies for local execution
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced business qualifications preferred
- Deep passion for the food retail sector and a data-driven, customer-centric leadership approach
What Benefits Come with This Executive Opportunity?
- Executive-level leadership role in one of the most recognized family businesses in the UAE
- Lead food and hospitality transformation across 7 regional markets
- Full ownership of strategic food retail performance including digital, sourcing, and operations
- Collaborate directly with brand leaders and global stakeholders to drive innovation
- Competitive compensation and opportunity for long-term career progression
About the Company
Al-Futtaim Group is one of the Middle East's most diversified and respected privately-owned businesses. Headquartered in Dubai and operating in over 20 countries, Al-Futtaim partners with world-class brands across five divisions: Automotive, Financial Services, Real Estate, Retail, and Healthcare. Through a legacy of excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Al-Futtaim continues to deliver solutions that improve the everyday lives of customers across the region.
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