Our Team

Walid Hajj CEO

A visionary and award-winning entrepreneur, Walid Hajj has defined his unique imprint in the food and beverages business creating innovative concepts that have disrupted the industry and established his credentials as a pioneer in F&B concepts that integrate advanced technology with exceptional service.

With more than two decades of hands-on expertise in food services and related businesses, Walid co-founded Kitch in 2020, further revolutionising the ‘kitchen-in-the-cloud’ concept. A delivery-focused cloud kitchen and operator, Kitch today takes digitisation and fast execution of F&B concepts to a new level. In 2021, Walid launches Lavoya, premium store front operator.

Walid demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen with the founding of Cravia, one of the region’s leading food and hospitality groups that brought world-class franchises to the Middle East, including Zaatar W Zeit, Five Guys, Cinnabon and Seattle’s Best Coffee.

From selecting and negotiating with brands, to creating and achieving operational excellence, Walid has been the driving force behind the amazing growth story of Cravia. Since its inception in 2001 and under his strategic direction, Cravia has grown from strength to strength. Today, the company’s portfolio includes more than 100 franchised restaurants and has presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar and employs over 3,000 employees. In 2016, Walid stepped down from his role after Fajr Capital, a private equity firm, acquired a majority stake in Cravia. He continues to be known as the Founder of the group and has become a highly sought- after speaker at industry conferences and summits around the world.