UAE-based Kitopi acquires F&B group AWJ in landmark deal

Kitopi has acquired the Dubai-founded F&B group, AWJ, which is the holding company behind delivery and dine-in brands such as Operation Falafel, Catch 22, Awani, Sushi Do and more.

The group operates more than 32 outlets across the UAE and Saudi Arabia; Operation Falafel serves over two million customers globally per year. AWJ also has franchises in New York and London, and has over 1,300 employees.

AWJ’s concepts were created and developed by co-founding Director Manhal Naser, who has acted as the group’s CEO since its launch, and co-founding director Tamer Bazzari, who chaired the corporate vehicle of the fund and was the investment manager.

The acquisition announcement comes as part of Kitopi’s ongoing strategy to invest in and grow regional brands and take them global.

Highlights of Kitopi

Primarily known as a cloud kitchen, today Kitopi defines itself as “a tech-powered, multi-brand restaurant with over 100 brands, operating in over 200+ locations across five markets”.

Read: Kitopi launches its first kitchens in Bahrain and Qatar

The deal, which occurred for an undisclosed amount, will see the AWJ group of brands explore expansion in new markets where Kitopi has a strong presence and a growing network of locations.

AWJ will also benefit from Kitopi’s pioneering tech SKOS (Smart Kitchen Operating System), one of the founding factors for the company’s early success.

On the acquisition, Manhal Naser, former group CEO, and co-founding director said, “It has been an honour to establish, lead and work so closely with the AWJ team whom I consider as family.

“We have built on our core fundamentals, raising the bar and setting the business up for a sustainable future – thanks to our 1300+ team champions, our supporting shareholders, the unique brands we have created, and the millions of consumers we serve.

“It is now time for a new chapter and having worked closely with Kitopi and Mohamed Ballout, the co-founder and CEO, I believe they are best positioned to take AWJ to the next level.”

Mohamad Ballout, CEO and co-founder of Kitopi commented, “With a purpose to satisfy the world’s appetite to create joy, we always strive to bring the best to our customers. To this end, we are incredibly proud to have acquired AWJ and its portfolio of brands.

“The co-founders and leaders of AWJ have done a remarkable job in building its iconic brands and growing them across borders – and it is going to be a privilege to continue to innovate, elevate and expand its success.”

While AWJ will welcome a new CEO, AWJ will retain its original team that led to its success and operate as a separate vertical to Kitopi’s on-demand business.