Catering News Middle East has announced its line-up of judges for the inaugural Leaders in Food & Beverage Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in the Middle East’s food and beverage industry.
The judging panel comprises some of the region’s key industry experts on the F&B industry, with extensive knowledge on the key trends, opportunities and challenges associated with the business.
Our judges have varied and wide-ranging experience spanning operations, investment, brand development, education, hotel F&B, marketing, business development and consumer trends.
Leaders in Food & Beverage judging panel (in alphabetical order based on surname):
- Sacha Daniel, group operations director, Solutions Leisure
- Akshay Oberai Dosaj, co-managing director, Purple Honey Group
- Rabih Feghali, director of business development, Roya International
- Naim Maadad, CEO, Gates Hospitality
- Helen Morris, executive chef / senior lecturer, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management
- Munira Mukadam, managing partner, Ribbon ME
- Mark Patten, senior vice president, food & beverage, Atlantis, The Palm
- Ali Sinaei, managing partner, Roundmenu
Commenting on her participation as a judge for the Leaders in F&B Awards, Helen Morris, executive chef/ senior lectures, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management said: “The judging panel brings together people that are passionate about the industry they work in, who like to see hard work and dedication recognised and rewarded.
“To be a judge on the Leaders in F&B Awards means I get to acknowledge some of the outstanding F&B leaders in our ever-evolving industry.”
Set to take place at Westin Mina Seyahi Dubai on Wednesday 9 November, the Leaders in F&B Awards will celebrate 18 categories, divided into nine restaurant awards and nine individual awards. The full list of categories is available by clicking on this link.
The individual categories include ‘Young F&B Leader’, ‘Leading F&B Investor’ and ‘Leading F&B Director’, while restaurant awards include ‘Disruptor of the Year’, ‘Leading Homegrown Restaurant Brand’ and ‘Newcomer of the Year’.
Commenting on being a judge, Mark Patten, senior vice president, food & beverage, Atlantis, The Palm said: “I believe we all have a responsibility to help grow and develop our industry and it is very humbling to be a part of these awards.
“One area which is imperative to this growth is to recognise the talent we have in Dubai and to nurture those talents, which in turn will deliver an abundance of great concepts and innovations.”
Nominations for the Leaders in F&B Awards opened on Monday 1 August and will close on Thursday 29 September.
Sponsoring the event are some of the most influential catering and hospitality suppliers on the market, including exclusive water sponsor Horeca Trade, distributor of San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna; Ronai LLC; Pulsar Foodstuff Trading and MKN.
To enquire about sponsorship opportunities or table bookings, contact Dom@bncpublishing.net or Nick@bncpublishing.net.
The full list of 18 categories and answers to frequently asked questions is detailed on www.hotelnewsme.com/events/
For nomination enquiries and to request a nomination form, please contact Catering@bncpublishing.net
You can follow all of the coverage on Catering News Middle East’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels using #FnBLeaders
