After steering clear of the pandemic, Saudi food trucks have the recipe for success

During the COVID-19 crisis, the owner of Daddy’s Grill food truck decided to seize the opportunity by expanding into new neighborhoods. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 June 2021
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After steering clear of the pandemic, Saudi food trucks have the recipe for success

  • ‘Kitchens on wheels’ are increasingly popular; their high mobility means they are well-placed to thrive in a post-COVID era

JEDDAH: Food trucks, or “kitchens on wheels,” have been a growing culinary trend in many countries in recent years and Saudi Arabia is no exception. They are now familiar sights on streets, at beaches, at malls, in parks and other open spaces — in short, anywhere they can park.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in particular, the mobility and flexibility of food trucks meant they were relatively well-placed to survive the crisis by offering an alternative to indoor dining, catering to people who miss the experience of a sit-down meal but want a better alternative than a traditional takeaway or home delivery.
As many businesses focused on finding new revenue streams during the health crisis, Taha Ashi, the owner of Daddy’s Grill food truck, which specializes in burgers, decided to seize the opportunity during the uncertain times by expanding into new neighborhoods. He owns three food trucks in Jeddah and plans to launch a restaurant this year.
Before the pandemic, he said he was serving an average of about 100 customers a day but that sales and profits fluctuated. During the pandemic, he added, sales have increased by about 20 percent.


“Food trucks are well-equipped to withstand pandemic restrictions, as they are naturally to-go and socially distanced businesses,” Ashi told Arab News.
“I focused on ways to maintain my customer base by, for example, connecting with the online delivery services and cultivating a social-media presence. All of that added up to a significant increase in sales.”
In 2016, he was one of the first people in Saudi Arabia to launch a food truck, which has much lower overhead costs than a traditional restaurant. Therefore, for anyone interested in getting into the catering business, especially in the coronavirus era, Ashi believes the food truck sector is a good option, not least because it is supported by the government. In some areas, for example, there are no charges for electricity or rent, which helps to keep costs down.

Truck business
Not all food truck businesses have coped with the pandemic quite as well as Ashi’s have, however. Abdul Aziz Al-Fadel — who owns the X Bite food truck, which also serves burgers, and a restaurant — said many small businesses have suffered in the past year and food trucks are no exception.
He told Arab News his business has had a rough time as a result of reduced trade, but that the challenges have pushed owners of catering businesses to become more innovative and creative in finding ways to connect with customers.

Food trucks are well-equipped to withstand pandemic restrictions, as they are naturally to-go and socially distanced businesses.

Taha Ashi, Owner of Daddy’s Grill food truck

“The sudden evaporation of events, concerts, festivals and gatherings left us confused,” said Al-Fadel. “Sales plunged by 60 to 70 percent.”
As the pandemic wore on, however, he said he began to adapt. He took advantage of the mobile nature of his business and visited more areas, took orders online and signed up with delivery services. He also launched a BBQ kit to the menu, which provides all the ingredients needed to cook authentic X Bite burgers at home. It proved to be a big hit and helped to boost sales.
A food truck is a less risky way to get started in the catering business than opening a traditional bricks-and-mortar cafe or restaurant, said Al-Fadel.
“After running a successful food truck our business grew and we launched a restaurant,” he explained. “A food truck business is cheaper to run and doesn’t need many people in the beginning to operate, so there is no worry about making payroll.”
He also had some advice for anyone interesting in launching their own truck. They must always maintain the highest standards of safety, he said, and need to be prepared to withstand challenges and adapt to adverse conditions.
“Most importantly, this business is seasonal,” he added. “During the summers the business is harsh, and in winter the sales go up. So the prospective owners need to experiment with new ideas that can help them continue to generate revenue.”
The potential rewards of building a popular food truck business are great and include, as the experiences of Ashi and Al-Fadel show, the possibility of expanding by opening a traditional restaurant. For others, the focus for now remains on their kitchens on wheels.
Ahmed Al-Hijri, who owns the CheeseSteak food truck, told Arab News that his business survived the pandemic because he worked long hours and embraced the use of delivery apps and social media to better engage with customers.
“We were actually able to net enough (income) to keep the business moving forward,” he said.
Because they require less capital investment and involve less financial risk, Al-Hijri added, food trucks offer a fantastic opportunity to enter a market that previously presented prospective entrepreneurs with much greater barriers.
As a result, he said, they can establish their brand on a smaller scale before attempting to grow and expand the business by opening a restaurant or franchising the trucks.


Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti speaking at the A World Without Hunger
Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

  • Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti says agriculure is agriculture is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development
  • He was speaking at the A World Without Hunger” conference in Addis Ababa

RIYADH: The Kingdom sees agriculture as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and supporting economic growth, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti said this week.

Al-Mushaiti led the Saudi delegation to the three-day “A World Without Hunger” conference that began on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During his conference speech, Al-Mushaiti said that agriculture also played a key role in job creation and prosperity for local communities. This came through the strengthening of farmer support systems and the promotion of modern agricultural practices to increase production and improve efficiency, ultimately achieving food security.

“The significant progress made in science, innovation and modern technologies has contributed to addressing many urgent global food challenges,” Al-Mushaiti said. “However, the advancement achieved in enhancing food security remains insufficient. This underscores the crucial importance of intensifying global efforts and activating policies to develop practical and effective solutions.”

The deputy minister said that direct food aid and humanitarian relief efforts had played a key role in providing short-term solutions to food insecurity in many countries. He said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center had implemented about 900 food security projects in 78 countries worldwide, reflecting the Kingdom’s humanitarian role and support for peoples facing severe conditions.

Al-Mushaiti said that boosting investment in the agriculture and food sectors had become paramount to building a world free of hunger. This could be achieved through adopting innovation and modern farming techniques, as well as providing flexible financing solutions to increase production and build resilience in agricultural and food systems.

“The Kingdom welcomes agricultural investments in all fields and offers incentives and support for investors globally,” Al-Mushaaiti said. “We seek to expand agricultural investment in countries with competitive advantages, abundant natural resources and growing markets, to leverage integrated agricultural capabilities and create more job opportunities toward achieving food security.”

Al-Mushaaiti stressed the need to strengthen multilateral international cooperation and engagement with global organizations, in addition to promoting fair trade in line with WTO standards. This, he said, would contribute to building a world free of hunger, alongside other essential steps such as exchanging best agricultural practices and technologies, expanding access to innovative financing, and enhancing infrastructure and social safety net programs.

Al-Mushaiti said that the Kingdom had taken several steps in this direction. This included launching programs and initiatives such as the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, which contributed to increasing the income of small-scale farmers and improving their living standards, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority“Monsha’at” Authority to support micro, small and medium enterprises in the sector, through financing, training and job opportunities, and other ambitious projects and programs that worked to support the agricultural sector and activate its contribution to achieving food security.

The “A World Without Hunger” conference was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian government, with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, to discuss topics related to the agriculture, food production and technology sectors, as well as food security, finance, food safety, infrastructure and more.


Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

Updated 08 November 2024
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Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

RIYADH: A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.

Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.

Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.

“Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.

“When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”

Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.

Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.

“Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”

Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.

Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.

Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.

Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.

The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.

In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30. 

Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.


KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable

These packages form part of the emergency shelter project in Yemen. (SPA)
Updated 08 November 2024
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KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered dates and winter shelter to vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.

KSrelief’s volunteers distributed 100 winter bags in Thamud district, Hadhramaut governorate, for 600 individuals from 100 vulnerable families.

These packages form part of the emergency shelter project in Yemen. (SPA)

The aid is a part of the agency’s emergency shelter project in the country.

Meanwhile, 2,459 cartons of dates were delivered in Al-Wadi district, Marib governorate, for the benefit of 14,754 people.


KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan

Updated 08 November 2024
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KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered aid to people most in need in Chad and Pakistan, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Some 201 food parcels, benefiting 1,206 people, were distributed in the village of Sharkaya, in Hajar Lamis province, as part of the 2024 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Chad.

Aid has also been given to 10,500 vulnerable people in flood-affected areas of Pakistan as part of the fourth phase of KSrelief’s initiative to provide shelter materials and winter bags to the country.


Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria. (SPA)
Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria

  • The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed food and hygiene kits to thousands of vulnerable people across Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.

The agency’s volunteers delivered 750 food parcels and 750 hygiene kits in Al-Hasakah, Syria, benefiting 4,500 people.

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria. (SPA)

Meanwhile 745 Syrian families, comprising 2,652 people, in Al-Dana, Idlib governorate, received food and hygiene kits.

The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria.