Gulf Hotels Group Enters High-Stakes Catering Market with New Venture

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – February 05, 2026 – Gulf Hotels Group (GHG), a cornerstone of Bahrain's hospitality sector for over half a century, has officially launched Gulf Catering, a new, large-scale venture aimed at capturing a significant share of the region's burgeoning institutional and corporate catering market. The move marks a strategic diversification for the publicly-listed group, translating its extensive experience in premium hotel and restaurant management into a structured, scalable platform designed for high-volume food service.

A Strategic Pivot into a Growing Market

The launch of Gulf Catering is a calculated entry into a market ripe with opportunity. The Bahraini catering sector alone is valued at over USD 71 million and is projected to grow at a steady annual rate of 4.30% through 2032. This growth is fueled by a dynamic corporate environment, major infrastructure projects, and an increasing demand for sophisticated, reliable food services across various sectors. On a larger scale, the GCC catering services market presents an even more compelling picture, valued at approximately USD 8.5 billion in 2025 and expected to more than double by 2034.

By launching Gulf Catering, GHG is positioning itself to capitalize on these trends. The new company will extend its services beyond traditional hospitality to a diverse client base including schools, universities, hospitals, corporate offices, and industrial facilities. This pivot allows the group to leverage its trusted brand name and reputation for quality, which has been cultivated over five decades, and apply it to a business-to-business model that demands consistency, safety, and efficiency at scale.

"The launch of Gulf Catering represents a carefully considered step within a new vision for Gulf Hotels Group," said Ahmed Janahi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Hotels Group, in a statement. "Through this platform, we are translating more than five decades of experience in delivering premium food and hospitality into an integrated operating model that can function at scale and with higher operational efficiency." This initiative is a core component of the group's strategy to diversify its portfolio and solidify its leadership position across the broader hospitality industry.

The Engine Room: A Central Kitchen and R&D Hub

At the heart of Gulf Catering's operational strategy is a newly constructed, state-of-the-art Central Kitchen. This facility was purpose-built to function as an advanced production hub, capable of supporting high-volume, multi-site delivery while adhering to stringent quality control and food safety protocols. This centralized model is designed to ensure a consistent product, from taste to presentation, across all client locations, a critical factor in institutional catering.

A key differentiator within this facility is a dedicated Research & Development (R&D) kitchen. This mirrors the best practices of leading international catering platforms, where continuous innovation and rigorous testing are integral to success. The R&D kitchen will serve as the creative and scientific core of the operation, enabling structured menu development, ingredient testing, and process refinement. This capability allows Gulf Catering to create customized menus that meet the specific dietary, cultural, and operational needs of different sectors—from nutritious school lunches to specialized hospital meals and sophisticated corporate event fare.

Furthermore, the operational framework incorporates modern service models, including cloud kitchen capabilities. This tech-driven approach enhances efficiency, allowing for rapid deployment and consistent service across multiple locations with disciplined precision, while retaining the flexibility to adapt to changing market demands.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

Gulf Catering enters a competitive but fragmented market. Bahrain is home to several established catering companies, including Fine Foods Catering, Food City Catering, and UCC Bahrain, many of which have carved out niches in corporate, industrial, and healthcare sectors. These competitors often highlight key industry certifications, such as ISO 22000 for Food Safety Management and HACCP, as proof of their commitment to quality and safety standards.

While GHG's press release emphasizes "strict quality control and food safety standards," the new venture's primary competitive advantage will likely be its ability to merge the premium culinary reputation of the Gulf Hotels Group brand with the operational rigor required for large-scale institutional contracts. The promise is to deliver a higher standard of food and service than what might be typical in volume catering, effectively elevating market expectations.

Raed Mayoof, the newly appointed General Manager of Gulf Catering, underscored this focus. "Gulf Catering has been developed around an integrated operating model that prioritises food quality, safety, and service consistency across all operating locations," he stated. "Supported by the Central Kitchen and a dedicated R&D capability, we are able to develop, test, and deliver menus that meet the operational and cultural needs of different sectors, while maintaining the service and food standards long associated with Gulf Hotels Group."

Broader Implications for Bahrain's Economy

The establishment of Gulf Catering is poised to have an impact beyond GHG's bottom line. By creating a large-scale, centralized food production facility, the venture is expected to generate new employment opportunities in culinary arts, logistics, food safety, and management. It also presents a significant opportunity for local suppliers, from farms to packaging companies, to integrate into a major new supply chain.

By aiming to elevate the quality of food services in critical institutions like schools and hospitals, the initiative also aligns with broader national development goals focused on public health and welfare. The successful implementation of this model could set a new benchmark for the catering industry in Bahrain and the wider GCC, demonstrating how a legacy hospitality brand can successfully innovate and expand into new, demanding market segments. This strategic expansion reinforces Gulf Hotels Group’s commitment to building future-ready operating models that can meet complex requirements while delivering unwavering quality and service.