KARIM MIKNAS, MANAGING PARTNER AT MIKNAS FOOD SAL- MCDONALD’S LEBANON

Karim Miknas has been part of the Lebanese F&B scene for almost a decade, when he took over the management of Mcdonald’s franchises in the country. But Miknas Food had its start in Bahrain, helping to boost food culture and the leisure industry there. Here, he takes HN through the firm's evolution, current role and plans for future developments.

What was it about Bahrain that prompted you to choose it as the launch market for your business?

Bahrain is an awesome place with a very educated, opinionated and curious population. It was an uncharted new space for the advertising business and very close to KSA for an enterprising adventurer like my father Akram. He established FP7 there in 1976, just eight years after starting in Beirut. My mom, brother and I stayed behind until the civil war became unbearable, then joined my dad in Bahrain.

Do you plan on expanding outside of Bahrain into other GCC markets?

Not really. Our plans are more focused on the Western Arab world. The GCC is quite overwhelmed and so saturated with concepts and competition that it's almost nonsensical.

Where do you see your ventures in five years' time?

With over 50 Mcdonald’s locations in Lebanon and JJ’S in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Malta — basically across the Western Arab world and Mediterranean, wherever our Phoenician ancestors went. mcdonalds.com.lb Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com