Cloud kitchen platform Kitopi acquires Dubai F&B operator AWJ.
Kitopi, a significant player in the cloud kitchen industry, has acquired AWJ, a Dubai-based F&B business known for its popular delivery and dine-in brands such as Operation Falafel, Catch 22, Awani, and Sushi Do. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
AWJ
Founded in 2014, AWJ has expanded to over 32 outlets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and has franchises in New York and London. The brand has more than 1,300 employees and has been growing steadily in recent years, with Operation Falafel alone attracting over 2 million customers globally annually.
The Acquisition
This acquisition by Kitopi is expected to enable AWJ to expand into new markets where Kitopi has a presence and benefits from its Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS) platform. Kitopi, which has over 100 brands and operates in more than 200 locations across five markets, has raised significant funding, including a $415 million round in March 2022 led by Japanese investment firm Softbank.
According to Mohamad Ballout, CEO and co-founder of Kitopi, “The co-founders and leaders of AWJ have done a remarkable job in building its iconic brands and growing them across borders. It will be a privilege to continue to innovate, elevate and expand its success.”
AWJ will have a new CEO but will retain its original team and operate as a separate vertical to Kitopi’s on-demand business. The acquisition is a significant move for Kitopi as the cloud kitchen and virtual-only restaurant trend continues growing in popularity in the UAE and Saudi markets.
Kitopi
Kitopi was founded in Dubai in 2018 with over 5,000 employees, with offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. It also operates an engineering hub in Krakow, Poland, a global customer experience center in Dubai, and a Robotics Hub in Odense, Denmark.
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