Latest news with #Locali
Khaleej Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai chocolate mania: 2.5 million bars sold at airports in 6 months; top brands revealed
Grabbing a quick treat at the Dubai Duty Free before flying out? As millions of travellers pass through the airports, they consume millions of chocolates, in turn generating millions of revenue. In just the first half of 2025, Dh165 million worth of Dubai chocolates were sold, Dubai Duty Free CEO Ramesh Cidambi told Dubai Eye. As much as 2.5 million bars of these UAE-based chocolates were sold, which accounted for 40 per cent of all confectionery. As these brands are UAE-based, the money goes back into the economy, Cidambi pointed out. Take a look at the main brands that consumers got their hands on in the first six months of 2025 – L'ocali, FIX, Bateel, Al Nassma, Samha, I love Dubai. FIX The brand became synonymous to the term "Dubai chocolates" when it launched the viral pistachio kunafa chocolate which took the world by storm. Globally, customers clamoured for a taste of the dessert sensation, several brands created dupes, but the authentic taste remains a UAE exclusive. Fix once teamed up with Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan to craft a 'one-of-a-kind chocolate flavour tailored to his personal taste and love for a special ingredient, Halawt, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert. The brand has since gone on to launch a new tropical flavour, named 'Time to Mango.' L'ocali This Dubai-born brand combines two key elements of UAE — heritage and luxury. With a collection of dates covered in 24k edible gold, it captures the UAE experience of finesse through-and-through. The brand sells a range of chocolate coated dates, dates with fillings such as pistachio, rose, and even orange peel. It also boasts a range of gourmet chocolate which "captures the essence of Dubai opulence," along with Belgian truffles and Swiss chocolate. Bateel While Bateel opened its first cafe in Riyadh in 1991, it subsequently opened its first one in UAE in 1992. Much like the historical bond between Saudi Arabia and UAE, this chocolate brand is closely linked to the Emirates, with its headquarters located in Dubai. According to its website, the word 'Bateel' refers to the young offshoot of a date palm that can be used to grow into a new tree. True to name, the brand is one of the pioneers of art of mixing the dry fruit with sweets, and Bateel says it "invented the date chocolate" in 2000. From Gold Leaf date set to a Gulf Map set, the brand wraps dates in decadence; but it does not focus only on the dry fruit. Bateel has a range of artisanal wrapped chocolate from Brazil to the Dominican Republic, suitable for gifting, along with cookies that draw inspiration from flavours such as date dhibs and milk chocolate sesame praline. Beyond chocolates, the brand forayed into the broader food sector with Cafe Bateel in 2007, now a popular spot among UAE residents. The menus "combine Middle Eastern essence with Mediterranean diversity." In 2023, Bateel launched Bateel El'an, a new culinary concept with cafe culture in a more compact format. Al Nassma Al Nassma's chocolate is famously made from a specific ingredient steeped in UAE tradition – camel milk. As Bedouins rode on the ship of the desert, these creatures became their companions and source of food too, with camel milk long serving as an important source of nutrition in the sands of Arabia. Founded in 2008, Al Nassma is the UAE's first camel milk chocolate brand, established by Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to Reuters. In its early years, the brand said it aimed to be "the Godiva of the Middle East". It boasts a range of uniwue, "hollow figures" along with "caravan boxes", pralines, and chocolate bars. Samha Samha's chocolate-covered dates are also made from camel milk. The brand was launched in 2019 by Prime Chocolate, the parent company of Al Nassma, to diversify Al Nassma's travel retail offerings. The bite-sized portions are a common sight at birthdays, gatherings, and children's parties – creating a core 'UAE' memory for the multiple nationalities that call the Emirates their home. Samha has also embraced the pistachio kunafa flavour, with its own camel milk twist. While Al Nassma focuses on broad camel milk-based chocolate products, Samha is a specific niche, capitalising on the country's love for dates, camel milk, and pistachios. Thought pistachio kunafa was the most unique combination? You might have to think again. The 'I love Dubai' brand offers pistachio baklava chocolate, along with gahwa crunch and halwa rahash. The brand offers local UAE flavours, with gahwa – the Emirati dialect word for Arabic coffee – being a symbol of UAE hospitality. Rahash, also known as halwa, is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made from sesame seed paste, and found in various forms, such as plain, with pistachios, or as a filling in chocolates. It has a nutty, fudge-like texture and is a popular dessert to combine with tea or coffee. Meanwhile, baklava is a sweet made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and syrup or honey.
Arabian Business
09-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai Duty Free records $565mn in first-quarter sales after strong February performance
Dubai Duty Free has reported first-quarter sales of AED2.06 billion ($565 million), supported by a record February, which contributed AED709 million ($194 million) in monthly sales. The February result marks a new monthly record, with average daily sales of AED25.3 million ($6.93 million). 'We are very pleased with our sales for the first three months of the year, especially in February when daily sales reached an average of AED25.3 million ($6.93 million) and kept pace with passenger growth. A lot of credit goes to our hard-working team of staff who achieve sales targets on an ongoing basis,' Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said. Dubai Duty Free highlights perfumes, confectionery as top categories The top five performing categories for the first quarter were Perfumes, Liquor, Tobacco, Gold and Confectionery. Perfume sales reached AED371 million ($102 million), contributing 18 percent of total revenue. Liquor followed with AED258 million ($71 million) in sales. Tobacco recorded an 11 percent year-on-year increase to AED220 million ($60 million). Gold sales increased marginally to AED212 million ($58 million), accounting for 10 percent of total revenue. Confectionery took the fifth spot for the first time, posting a 57 percent increase over the same period last year, with sales reaching AED207 million ($57 million), also contributing 10 percent of total revenue. Dubai Duty Free records surge in chocolate sales in Q1 2025 Cidambi attributed much of the category's growth to the performance of Dubai-branded chocolate products. 'The remarkable success of the 'Dubai' chocolate offering has contributed significantly to the surge in the Confectionary category with specialty brands such as Fix Chocolate, Locali, I Love Dubai, Bateel and Al Nassma collectively generated sales of AED80.4 million ($22 million). That figure represents over 1.2 million individual chocolate bars sold in the first quarter of 2025,' he added. Sales in the renovated Arrivals shops reached AED125 million ($34 million) during the first quarter. 'We are very pleased with the newly renovated and refurbished retail shops in Terminals 1 and l 2 Arrivals with Terminal 3 Arrivals shop 4 due for completion next month. These enhancements are already elevating our Arrivals business,' Cidambi said. Dubai Duty Free plans to expand its retail operations throughout 2025, including new luxury brand boutiques in Concourse A featuring Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Chanel. The company will also host events in the second quarter of 2025. The Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials will take place at Newbury Racecourse in the UK on April 11 and 12. The UAE Nationals Cup is scheduled for May 3 at the Montgomerie Golf Club.
Zawya
09-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
February sales of AED 709mln ($194mln) lift Dubai Duty Free first quarter over 2024
Following record sales in 2024, Dubai Duty Free has announced first-quarter sales of Dhs2.06 billion (US$565 million). The sales growth was largely driven by an exceptional February, which set a new sales record for the month of Dhs709 million (US$194 million). Commenting on the first quarter sales performance, Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said: 'We are very pleased with our sales for the first three months of the year, especially in February when daily sales reached an average of Dhs25.3 million (US$6.93 million) and kept pace with passenger growth. A lot of credit goes to our hard-working team of staff who achieve sales targets on an ongoing basis.' Perfumes, Liquor, Tobacco, Gold and Confectionery held the top five spots category-wise with Perfume sales reaching Dhs371 million (US$102 million) and contributing 18% of total revenue. Liquor followed with sales of Dhs258 million (US$71 million), while Tobacco increased by 11% over the same period last year with sales amounting to Dh220 million (US$60 million). Gold increased marginally with sales amounting to Dhs212 million (US$58 million), contributing 10% of total revenue. Confectionery showed robust growth, taking the fifth spot for the first time with a 57% increase over the same period last year, with sales reaching Dhs207 million (US$57 million) and contributing 10% of total revenue. 'The remarkable success of the 'Dubai' chocolate offering has contributed significantly to the surge in the Confectionary category with specialty brands such as Fix Chocolate, Locali, I Love Dubai, Bateel and Al Nassma collectively generated sales of Dhs80.4 million (US$22 million). That figure represents over 1.2 million individual chocolate bars sold in the first quarter of 2025,' added Mr. Cidambi. In addition, recent renovations in the Arrivals shops have led to sales hitting Dhs125 million (US$34 million) in the first quarter. 'We are very pleased with the newly renovated and refurbished retail shops in Terminals 1 and l 2 Arrivals with Terminal 3 Arrivals shop 4 due for completion next month. These enhancements are already elevating our Arrivals business and strengthening the Liquor category,' said Mr. Cidambi. Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free will continue to bolster its retail offering throughout 2025, which includes the opening of boutiques in Concourse A featuring luxury brands such as LV, Cartier and Chanel. The events calendar is also busy with upcoming events, including the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials taking place at the Newbury Racecourse in the UK on 11th and 12th April, followed by the UAE Nationals Cup taking place at the Montgomerie Golf Club on May 3rd. -Ends-
