With 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Foodvest Holding CEO Mateo Ramos has faced many challenges during his career. He talks about staying calm in uncertain times, the brands’ charitable efforts and inspiring his team to succeed.

The past few weeks have brought a fair amount of uncertainty for businesses. What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and how have you navigated them?
Honestly, the hardest part has been the uncertainty. You can plan for a lot of things in business, but when the ground keeps shifting, it really tests you. For me, it’s been about staying calm and being present for the team. You don’t always have perfect answers, but you can be honest, you can listen and you can move forward together. We’ve focussed on taking things day by day, supporting each other and staying flexible.

Foodvest brands have been active in several charitable endeavours recently. Could you share a bit more about what these efforts have involved?
Foodvest brands have been actively involved in giving back to the community, especially during challenging times. During the COVID period, we supported medical workers by providing a large number of free drinks as a gesture of appreciation for their incredible efforts. More recently, we have expanded our initiatives by distributing 500 meals across various shelters, ensuring support reaches those in need. In addition, we continue to offer free drinks to frontline workers, with the total value of these contributions reaching around BD24,000. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting and uplifting the community.

What kind of response have you seen from these community initiatives, and what have they meant for you and your team?
We’ve seen an incredibly positive and heartfelt response to these initiatives. People genuinely wanted to be part of what we’re doing, whether by supporting, spreading the word or contributing in their own way.
This kind of engagement is something we’re very used to from the Bahraini community; it’s always been a community that comes together and stands behind meaningful causes. For us and our team, it’s been very motivating and rewarding to witness that level of unity and support, and it reinforces why we continue to do what we do.

In your view, what role should hospitality businesses play during challenging times like these?
I think we have a responsibility to be more than just businesses. Hospitality, at its core, is about people. In tough times, people look for comfort, familiarity – even something as simple as a good meal or a welcoming space. If we can provide that, even in a small way, it makes a difference. And internally, it’s also about taking care of our teams – they’re the heart of everything.

The revamped Fuddruckers and Caribou Coffee branches in Durrat Al Bahrain introduce a new look and feel. What can guests expect from these upgraded outlets?
In Durrat Al Bahrain, both Fuddruckers and Caribou Coffee now have a very modern, beautiful look. The spaces feel fresh, stylish and comfortable, with warm lighting and a great atmosphere. We’ve also added relaxed touches like bean bags, so people can sit back, enjoy their burgers or coffee, and even watch games – it’s designed to be a place where people really want to spend time.

With your experience across different markets and concepts, what do you think keeps a brand relevant today?
From our experience, what keeps a brand relevant today has really evolved. Before, the focus was mainly on operations – getting the basics right and ensuring consistency. While that’s still important, today it’s much more about how you present the brand, how it looks and how effectively you market it.
Customers are drawn to strong visual identity, engaging spaces and brands that know how to communicate and connect with them. It’s also about constantly improving, always refining the experience, staying updated with trends and finding new ways to stay fresh and exciting. That continuous evolution is what truly keeps a brand relevant today.

Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for Foodvest over the next period?
Our key priorities for Foodvest are focussed on great product innovation and continuously enhancing how our brands look and feel. We want to keep introducing new ideas and offerings, while making sure our spaces stay modern, attractive and relevant. At the same time, we’re focussed on constant improvement, refining the customer experience, strengthening our marketing and making sure everything we do keeps evolving with what our customers expect.

In times that test both businesses and people, how has your work as a motivational speaker influenced the way you lead day to day?
This time has been tough on all of us but just like during COVID or any other challenging period, I believe we’ll come out stronger and stronger. Being a motivational speaker has shaped how I lead every day – I focus on staying positive, inspiring the team and helping everyone see challenges as opportunities to grow. It’s about resilience, keeping morale high and leading by example, so we can get through any difficult time together. ✤