In a bid to bring a taste of Italy to the heart of Saudi Arabia, Café Barbera has announced a bold new partnership with Big Apple Sweets, a UAE-based foodservice operator. The renowned Italian-based coffee chain is set to make its mark in the Kingdom by launching ten new outlets across the region by February 2025, with the first slated to open its doors in Riyadh in March 2024.
The announcement was made at the prestigious Gulfood 2024 event, where Café Barbera’s founder and CEO, Enrico Barbera, expressed his enthusiasm for the venture, stating, “Gulfood serves as the perfect platform to announce our venture into KSA. We are delighted to introduce Café Barbera’s rich heritage to Riyadh, offering a true Italian coffee experience that will resonate with the local community.”
Big Apple Sweets CEO Eisa Adam Ibrahim echoed Barbera’s sentiments, saying, “We are honoured to take our partnership further, to take Café Barbera in bringing their unique Italian coffee culture to the KSA. Their dedication to quality and tradition perfectly aligns with our values, and we are confident that our offerings will be embraced by the Saudi market.”
This expansion into Saudi Arabia is part of Café Barbera’s broader global growth strategy. In addition to its foray into the Saudi market, the coffee chain has also set its sights on Greece, where it recently opened its first store in Athens in November 2023. This new location not only represents the brand’s fifth European market but also introduces the brand’s first mini-store concept in Europe.
Café Barbera’s journey began in 1870 as a humble coffee roaster, and it has since evolved into a global brand with a presence in 18 markets worldwide. The chain launched its first franchised coffee shop in Dubai in 2004 and now operates 40 locations across the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and beyond.
With its rich heritage, commitment to quality, and dedication to tradition, Café Barbera is poised to make a lasting impression on the Saudi market, offering coffee lovers a taste of authentic Italian coffee culture in the heart of the Kingdom.
(Source: Verdict Food Service | World Coffee Portal)
