MEA UAE Business Awards 2017

18 MEA MARKETS / UAE BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 , MidwayMiddle East is Dubai based company dealing with Organic, Gluten Free, Non GMO, Vegan, Raw, Probiotic andmany other free-from foods and beverages. We caught up with the Founder and Managing Director Katarina Gjosheva Cheshlarov and Bisiness Development Director Dushko Chifliganec to find out more about the firmand the vast array of products it offers. Best Nutritional Food & Beverage Provider - MENA Under its umbrella, Midway Middle East have more than 25 very well established brands from the United States and Europe with whom they work on exclusivity bases for the MENA region. All brands present in Midway’s portfolio are very carefully selected, and are absolute top performers in their domestic markets. Dushko discusses the firm’s brands and how it works to ensure that it only works with the very best in order to offer clients top quality products. “Here at Midway Middle East we offer only the very best products from across the food and beverage market. Among our US partners are: LUKE’S Organic, Lakewood Organic, GH Creators, Hi I’m Skinny, Baked in Brooklyn and Raw Revolution. Some of our European partners are: Biotta, Sarchio, Bioitalia, Dragon Superfoods, Gaea and Rawlicious. Thus, choosing the right products is the first crucial objective of our operations on which our success is laid. We support our suppliers with introducing and building their brands in the region. “The second key task of Midway’s scope of work is achieving the right execution of the brands within our markets of operations. We accomplish this in partnership together with Modern Trade Retailer Chains in the region as well certain specialized Organic high end A class stores. We would like to point out our cooperation with the number one retailer in the region Carrefour with whom we work in a very close strategic partnership. With Carrefour, we are continuously mutually engaged in creating new ways and alternatives for serving their customers. We would like to use this opportunity to acknowledge Carrefour’s proactivity and huge efforts committed not only providing healthy food; furthermore, educating and making shoppers aware of the importance of the same. We focus on the total healthy category by creating new shopping experience for the customers by providing them with different healthy alternatives. Our strategies are based on vast market intelligence, global and regional food trends. These offerings are only part of Midway’s services, which makes us distinctive and unique.” Alongside a vast service offering, Katarina is eager to highlight the firm’s impressive focus on client service and ensuring that everyone it works with receives the service they need. “Midway Middle East is founded on two main principles: Competence & Compromise. The first one is a must and the second one is must not. The essence of our company behavior is based solely on full commitment to what we do, and excellence is the only option in our performance.” “There is only one success proven philosophy when it comes to client service: the client is the first, foremost and most important aspect of the business. This principle applies for every business; however, for us, the significance extends beyond the business perspective. We believe that we have one of the most noble professions existing, which is providing people with food. Providing people food relates with providing life to people. What we sell is not a want, what we sell is a need. We trust that selling a bite of food has the equal significance as a doctor’s job, and that is the exact approach we have in our work. The technique we approach client service with can be best resembled by the two- way method of communication. We always primarily tend to understand customers’ needs; then, we provide them with healthier options. “To illustrate the point, if a customer wants a chocolate, we offer chocolate; nevertheless, we offer Organic, Raw and Low on Sugar chocolate that is healthier than conventional chocolate. We always provide our customers with what is best for them regardless of anything. In simple words, it takes willingness, bond creation, mutual understanding and communication from both, us and our customers to pursue the healthier trail. As in any business, the company is the wall, and the employees are the bricks. In order the wall to stand tall, the bricks UA170024 must be perfectly aligned. That is exactly what Midway’s team is. Midway’s team is consisted of carefully chosen individuals who themselves, have realized and strongly believe in the significance of pursuing a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle, and have already experienced the difference it brings in their life. To succeed, you must truly believe. Our biggest belief is Healthy; therefore, Healthy is our ultimate success. Every day each one of us is perfectly aligned with our mission to create a healthier society for everyone. Every day, we strive to discover something new, better, innovative and benefit creating. We believe more in Healthy every next day; thus, every next day we are closer to everyone.” This supportive, collaborative internal culture is vital to the firm’s success and drives every aspect of its work, as Katarina explains. “Midway is ruled by two oxymoronically statements. Primarily, we believe that the team is only as good as the leader; however, we also fundamentally believe that a leader is only as good as the team behind. These two very meaningful sentences embody great significance in the basis on which our way of working is positioned internally. At Midway, there is no such thing as boss and its employees. At Midway, we believe in associates only. Our success