Gaya Catering Co-Founder and Operations Director Jad Chalak reveals the secrets behind the homegrown company’s carefully crafted experiences.
Please tell us more about the concept behind Gaya, and how the company started out.
We’re proud to say that Gaya is a UAE-grown catering business, inspired by the nation’s diverse and rich heritage. Since our inception, we’ve strived to meet the growing needs of the market by offering authentic food made with hand-picked quality ingredients, thanks to recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation, to ensure that your next social gathering or corporate event is an unforgettable one.
Furthermore, after the success of our “Al Shams” butchery, followed by our authentic Lebanese restaurant in Sharjah, and Global Village in Dubai, we’ve decided to venture into the food catering business in which the Gaya Catering concept has emerged.
What’s your market scope and how do you see the UAE market, what makes it unique?
We want to position ourselves as a renowned food provider in catering services and daily lunchboxes, offering healthy meal options infused with Lebanese and international cuisine all under one roof.
With the food and beverage market in the UAE being so competitive, it’s important that we create such value propositions that distinguish us from our competitors and be able to reach everyone.
What trends have you been following closely in the food world and how do you keep up?
Natural and organic ingredients and fresh products are growing in popularity, and by offering them to our customers, we’re ensuring that we’re adapting to their changing preferences. Sustainability is another pressing topic; we do our part by working hard to recycle any waste that we produce, this way our impact on the environment is as minimal as possible.
What do you think are the pillars of a good catering business?
Fresh ingredients, consistency in food taste and quality, and an accurate measuring of ingredients are incredibly important in order to have a successful catering business.
What’s in the pipeline for your company?
Today, people are growing increasingly health-conscious and are concerned about their food intake. As such, we’ve made the decision to extend our offering to include a new concept known as “Stay Healthy with Gaya”, a business unit that introduces Gaya FITNESS, Gaya DIET and Gaya DETOX plans and menus. These comprise ready-to-eat meals, freshly prepared every day in our Gaya kitchen and delivered to your doorstep.
Through the Gaya Healthy Kitchen option, we aim to target fitness and healthcare centres and individuals who wish to meet their body-weight goals.
We’re also set to launch “Gaya Kiosks”, which will offer breakfast and lunch at affordable prices and will be strategically located in certain office areas. As part of our growth strategy, we also intend to expand our business in the GCC – more information will be made available in due course.
