Hospitality

Designing the Next Generation of Functional, Future-Ready Foods

Published

2 months ago

December 3, 2025

A wide view of a modern luxury lounge, TIMELESS, featuring a curved bar with a sculptural travertine counter, plush low seating, sophisticated warm lighting, and minimalist desert-inspired decor.

Exclusive interview with İnanç Işık, General Manager – Retail, Kerry Middle East

You’ve spoken about the balance between taste, functionality, and sustainability. What technological advances are helping Kerry achieve sustainable innovation without compromising flavour or performance?

At Kerry, sustainability and taste are inseparable. Our Tastesense™ portfolio enables up to 50% sugar and salt reduction while preserving flavour integrity. We combine biotechnology, fermentation, and enzymology to extend shelf life and reduce food waste, supporting circular economy goals. Proprietary tools like Kerry NutriGuide model nutritional impact during reformulation, ensuring healthier profiles without trade-offs. These innovations are embedded in our Smart Taste™ platform, which addresses cost, supply, and regulatory pressures while maintaining indulgent taste. For example, our Cocoa Booster technology allows up to 20% cocoa reduction, mitigating volatility and lowering carbon footprint without compromising sensory experience.

Ingredient volatility — such as fluctuating cocoa and sugar prices — remains a major industry challenge. How is Kerry using R&D and data-led formulation to help manufacturers manage supply and cost risks?

Cocoa prices have surged by over 300% in the past year, and sugar markets remain highly volatile due to global supply constraints and regulatory pressures. Kerry addresses these challenges through a combination of predictive formulation tools like NutriGuide and advanced ingredient technologies.

For cocoa, our Cocoa Booster solutions enable up to 20% cocoa reduction without compromising indulgent taste or compliance. For sugar, our Tastesense™ technology delivers up to 50% sugar reduction, helping manufacturers manage cost exposure without compromising on taste while meeting consumer demand for healthier profiles.

These strategies not only reduce reliance on volatile raw materials but also improve manufacturing efficiency, delivering cost savings of up to 24% in bakery applications, while ensuring consistent quality, sustainability, and great taste.

Kerry’s approach to innovation often begins in foodservice before scaling to retail. How does this process work in practice, and what tools or insights make it effective?

Foodservice is our innovation incubator. Concepts validated in quick-service and casual dining channels, where trends emerge fastest, are adapted for retail using Taste Charts, Trendspotter AI, and Kerry Kalaido®, our generative AI concepting tool. These tools accelerate ideation-to-launch by combining consumer insights, sensory science, and chef-led prototyping. At Gulfood, we showcased Gold Brew Qahwa and Nashville Chicken Chips, examples of foodservice-inspired ideas scaled for retail through Kerry’s integrated RD&A network and global manufacturing footprint.

With the rise of GLP-1 health trends and growing demand for high-protein, functional products, how is Kerry adapting its strategy to meet new consumer nutrition needs?

GLP-1 adoption is reshaping consumer priorities toward satiety, digestive health, and metabolic support. Kerry’s Proactive Health platform delivers science-backed solutions like BC30™ probiotics for protein absorption, Eupoly-3™ omega-3s for heart health, and Tastesense™ masking solutions to improve flavour in high-protein, reduced-sugar formulations. Our proprietary research identifies five GLP-1 consumer personas, guiding innovation in formats such as protein bars, functional beverages, and meal replacements. At Gulfood, concepts like the Hot Honey Power Bar demonstrated how indulgence and functionality can coexist.

Kerry recently partnered with KidZania on the Kids Flavour Detective Workshop. How do initiatives like this help your teams understand emerging taste preferences and design products for future generations?

The Kids Flavour Detective Workshop gave us direct access to Gen Alpha’s flavour preferences through hands-on co-creation. Gen Alpha has more active taste buds and higher sensitivity to sweet, bitter, umami and spicy compounds. Insights from this activation helped us develop new cheese powder concepts, Savoury Parmesan and Creamy Gouda, featured at Gulfood. These initiatives ensure our innovation pipeline reflects the evolving tastes of younger consumers, enabling brands to future-proof their portfolios with flavours that resonate across generations.

Collaboration with research institutions such as KAUST and KHNI highlights Kerry’s investment in science-driven innovation. How do these partnerships translate bioscience and smart-health research into everyday food solutions?

Our partnerships with KAUST and the Kerry Health & Nutrition Institute (KHNI) accelerate breakthroughs in microbiome science, cellular biology, and functional ingredient development. These collaborations underpin innovations like personalised AI nutrition platforms, clean-label reformulation, and functional ingredients for better health. By embedding cutting-edge science into everyday application, from sugar reduction systems to hydration solutions, we deliver solutions that meet consumer health needs without compromising taste.

Looking ahead, what does the future of food manufacturing look like to you — and how will Kerry continue to lead the transformation of the region’s food ecosystem?

The future is digital, sustainable, and personalised. Expect AI-driven predictive analytics, carbon reduction strategies, and bioscience-led nutrition to dominate. Kerry will continue to lead by combining taste leadership, sustainability, and science-backed innovation, shaping a resilient food ecosystem for MENAT and beyond. Our ambition is clear: to reach two billion people with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030, while enabling customers to deliver products that are better for people, society, and the planet.

Hospitality

JOE’S CAFÉ DUBAI ELEVATES THE RAMADAN EXPERIENCE WITH ICONIC BURJ KHALIFA VIEWS

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

A table at JOE’S CAFÉ DUBAI set for Iftar, featuring assorted dishes including lentil soup, avocado quinoa salad, grilled skewers, a beetroot and greens starter, slow‑cooked lamb shank with rice, bread slices, and a mint drink, all arranged on a patterned red tablecloth with small lanterns and warm natural lighting.

This Ramadan, Joe’s Café Dubai invites guests to gather for a moment of togetherness in one of the city’s most elegant dining settings. Nestled within Fashion Avenue at Dubai Mall and overlooking the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, Joe’s Café presents a luxury Iftar experience that blends British heritage with the warmth and spirit of Ramadan.

Built around the theme of “A Moment of Togetherness”, the Ramadan experience at Joe’s Café is thoughtfully designed for families, friends, and corporate groups to break their fast at sunset. The specially curated Iftar menu reimagines British classics with Ramadan warmth, featuring a selection of premium and balanced flavours.

Joe’s Café’s specially curated Ramadan Iftar menu is priced at AED 320 per person and showcases a refined selection of signature dishes designed for both comfort and indulgence.

Guests can begin with warming lentil soup, followed by starters such as Calamari Fritti or a fresh Avocado Quinoa Salad. The main course highlights include the slow-baked Lamb Shank served with aromatic lamb rice and yoghurt, perfectly grilled salmon with pea purée and ratatouille, garlic-flavoured grilled chicken with steak fries, and the much-loved Risotto Al Mare featuring calamari, prawns, and hammour in Joe’s signature pink sauce. Traditional Ramadan beverages including Jallab, tamarind, mixed dates and dry apricot drinks complement the experience.

As the call to prayer marks the end of the day, guests are welcomed into an atmosphere of refined comfort, attentive service, and understated luxury, where Iftar feels both elevated and familiar. With its fashion-heritage roots, skyline views, and lifestyle-led dining philosophy, Joe’s Café Dubai stands out as a must-visit Ramadan destination for those seeking an Iftar that is both culturally resonant and luxuriously composed.

Hospitality

Love Is on the Menu at Luciano’s

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This Valentine’s Day, be transported to the heart of the Mediterranean at Luciano’s, where romance meets vibrant coastal flavors in an atmosphere brimming with charm and warmth. Celebrate love with an unforgettable dining experience that captures the true essence of Mediterranean cuisine, thoughtfully crafted to delight the senses and set the mood for a magical evening.

Guests will enjoy a specially curated sharing-style Valentine’s menu, starting with an amuse-bouche of Pescado Rojo salsa with tuna, spicy salsa, and avocado purée, followed by ricotta ravioli with pumpkin, feta, hazelnut, and crispy leek. The main course features slow-cooked ribs with beetroot, parsnip, and wild mushroom jus, while dessert showcases Valrhona raspberry chocolate with hazelnut cake, fleur de sel, feuillantine, and mignardises.

Adding a romantic touch to the evening, each lady will be presented with a rose and chocolate, making the occasion even more special. Whether raising a glass of bubbly or soaking in the lively ambiance, Luciano’s offers the perfect setting to celebrate love in style.

The Valentine’s Day experience is priced at AED 595 per couple, inclusive of soft beverages, or AED 695 per couple, including a glass of bubbly upon arrival.

Date: Valentine’s Day
Location: Luciano’s, Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection.

Hospitality

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON – VALENTINE’S DAY

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Skyline Symphony: A Love Story in 360° at Level 43

Celebrate Valentine’s Day high above the city at Level 43, where romance unfolds against breathtaking 360° panoramic skyline views. Designed for romance and exclusivity, the evening pairs elevated cuisine with premium sparkling selections, offering couples a choice of three thoughtfully curated packages, each crafted to create unforgettable moments as the city lights come alive.

Valentine’s Night Dining | Skyline Symphony Packages

The Horizon Classic: Four-course fusion menu with a bottle of house sparkling wine | AED 1,100 per couple

Venue: Level 43 Sky Lounge, Dubai

For more information, please contact +971 56 414 2213

Candlelight & Strings: Valentine’s Day at Publiq

Set the mood this Valentine’s Day with Candlelight & Strings at Publiq. Enjoy an intimate evening featuring a specially curated three-course Valentine’s set menu, complemented by live string music and a bottle of sparkling wine. A perfect setting for couples to celebrate love in a warm, romantic ambiance.

Details:

Date: 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Venue: Publiq European Bistro, Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

A Playful Valentine’s Night at Purani Dilli, SZR

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a vibrant and quirky twist at Purani Dilli, SZR. Known for its lively atmosphere and gimmicky, Instagrammable food and beverage experiences, the venue sets the stage for a fun-filled evening that’s perfect for couples who love bold flavours and share-worthy moments. The special Valentine’s dinner features a four-course set menu, complemented by a glass of bubbly, served in an energetic and colourful setting that blends nostalgia with modern flair.

Details:

Time: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Price: AED 279 per couple (including a glass of bubbly)
Venue: Purani Dilli, SZR

Valentine’s Night with 90s Romance at Purani Dilli, Bur Dubai

Step back in time this Valentine’s Day with a nostalgic twist at Purani Dilli, Bur Dubai. Enjoy a live 90s romantic song performance while indulging in a specially curated Valentine’s buffet made with premium ingredients. Each couple will also receive two glasses of bubbly, making it the perfect way to celebrate love in a lively yet intimate setting.

Details:

Time: 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Venue: Purani Dilli, Bur Dubai

DJ Valentine Bash at Tipsy Tikka

Turn up the energy this Valentine’s Day at Tipsy Tikka with a high-octane DJ Valentine Bash. DJ Pepz will spin a mix of romantic, Bollywood, and commercial hits, creating the perfect soundtrack for couples and friends alike. Open to singles and groups, the night comes with unlimited alcoholic beverages and cocktails, promising a fun-filled, lively celebration.

Details: