“Logic doesn’t always exist in the decision-making process here, and that’s a really important thing to say.”
If you are trying to break into the GCC FMCG markets, you need to hear this piece of advice from Mike Walden, CEO and Founder of Beboxa.
In the latest episode of I Just Had to Ask, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike to unpack his 35+ years of high-level supply chain and retail experience. We chatted about why cracking this region requires a completely different playbook than the UK or Europe.
The reality? There are no shortcuts to scaling here. Here are 3 key takeaways from our conversation:
⏩ The Post-Trade Show Trap: Securing a single order or picking up one consolidated pallet from a show like Gulfood isn’t “cracking the market.”
⏩ Multi-Layered Decision-Making: Unlike the UK, where you know exactly which buyer to pitch at Tesco or Asda, the GCC features multi-layered franchise models.
⏩ The Innovation Influx: The traditional distribution model in the region is heavily focused on volume. However, with massive, young demographics, there is a massive hunger for on-trend wellness and innovative products.
The secret weapon? Patience.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/d2haRhxF