Masterminds Corporation LLC

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Going Niche

Some of Beirut\Zs food and beverageplayersare taking a different approach to buisnessby going after niche markets, while others are mixing upscale with casual

You don\Zt have to look far to realize that Lebanon\Zs food and beverage (F&B) sector is causing ripples worldwide. In August of this year, Forbes Middle East ran an article on how Lebanon\Zs Restaurateurs Are Cashing In On Nigeria\Zs Booming F&B Industry. Also, here in Lebanon, the sector was put on a pedestal when Beirut was named Travel and Leisure Magazine\Zs Best International City for Food in 2017.

In a city (and its suburbs...think Broummana, Antelias) where it seems a restaurant, café or bar is opening every week, it pays to stand out from the crowd in what has become a dog-eat-dog market.

Our researchers at Masterminds have been out on the city\Zs F&B scene looking for those places where both differentiation and value are key.Or in other words, catering to niche markets, which is more than just a trend.

Kalei Coffee Co., in Beirut\Zs Mar Mikhael district, is one such place. According to its website, its owncoffee enthusiaststravel the world to actually handpick unique coffee beans themselves. A three-floor coffee shop and micro-roastery means those beans, which are direct trade green coffee, are flown homeand roast onsite. Another specialty non-chain coffee shop to hit Beirut in the past 12 months is Sip, on Gemmayzeh\Zs Rue Gouraud. Sip is all about its vintage style interior and cool crowd.

Staying in Mar Mikhael but this time on Pharon Street is Kharouf, whichCharbel Akiki managing partner with Gino Khoueiry opened in the final quarter of 2017. What\Zs unique about this place is that it only serves (more or less at least) lamb, which rotates on a spit that diners can see. Going strong for nearly a year now, it clearly shows that going niche has a place in the Beirut F&B scene.

MORE TO COME

Stem, by the owners of Capitol, and located on Achrafieh\Zs Monot Street, has been causing abuzz since it first opened its doors earlier this year. Wine bar and restaurant, its upscale-casual mix and simple branding gives way to drinks and international dishes. Word has it that this place is constantly full, so clearly, they are doing something right. Two more places about to open their doors in Beirut are Slate, and Wine and Wit, both situated on Madrid Street, Mar Mikhael. Our researchers have also seen that the huge space of the former Memory Lane on the same street is currently being worked on, so expecta new F&B opening soon. Also, a little bird has told us that an innovative Asian F&B concept not seen in Beirut before is set to launch in March 2019, so watch this space.

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