Qadreya Al Awadhi the founder of Bumblebee Food
In the competitive landscape of the food industry, carving out a niche requires not only a great product but also a deep understanding of the market’s unique needs. For the founder of Bumblebee, this journey began with a simple observation while babysitting—a moment that sparked a realization about the lack of fresh, healthy food options for children. In this interview, we delve into the story behind Bumblebee, exploring the challenges faced, the innovations introduced, and the values that drive this unique business to success in the UAE market.
Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to start your business?
The idea began when I was babysitting my friend’s son and noticed that the supermarket ready pouch lacked colour and taste, I turned it back and saw that the production date is older than the baby himself. This is when I asked my friends if they faced any problems and they all said that they can’t find any fresh and healthy food for their children, hence Bumblebee was born. The menu has been carefully developed by a child nutritionist and certified chefs to offer a gourmet experience for your child.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
Entering a new industry presented its own set of challenges, especially with the supplier management and operational model. Luckily, I had made friends with people in the industry and with the right guidance I was able to navigate this smoothly. One challenge I faced was finding the right delivery partner who would deliver my products on time, I tried over 20 companies until I found the right fit.
How do you differentiate your business from competitors in your industry?
We are the only ones that sell frozen baby and kids food in the UAE, we also recently launched a dry snack range which ultimately makes our business the only one with such offerings. We pride ourselves in providing the most delicious and nutritious meals that has been developed by a paediatric nutritionist and certified chefs. There is no other product like ours in the market.
What are some of the key strategies you’ve implemented that have contributed to your business’s success?
We offer convenience without compromising on health or taste. We are always developing recipes that are new, healthy, and delicious. Parents have responded well as their children often like variety and not having to eat the same thing daily. Introducing our new dry snack range has been a massive hit with our clients as well as those are more travel friendly and can be taken anywhere.
How do you stay motivated and maintain your vision during tough times?
Honestly, I just cook a meal at home, and before I finish cooking, I see my whole family and cousins gather around the kitchen to eat. I don’t know how they got in the house, or how they even know I am cooking, but they never fail to show up. I am so grateful that they show up and are happy with my cooking. Their presence and feedback always give me a confidence boost, sometimes having positive people around you just make you feel better by their presence, and I am lucky that my family is such.
What role does innovation play in your business, and how do you foster a culture of innovation within your team?
Innovation is important to be unique and to sustain long term growth. The reason for that is because customers will eventually get bored of having the same thing over and over and can later switch to other brands that have different offerings. Stay ahead of your competition by innovating as it will give you a competitive edge and draw in customers.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are just starting out?
Don’t spread yourself too thin. I recommend you grow slowly and organically as it is much more sustainable than going all out and doing too many things at the same time. It is very easy to get distracted with the next steps before achieving your current steps, sometimes you end up wasting your time and money on things that don’t matter or don’t benefit your company. Take a step back and asses your company’s goal and write down the steps needed to achieve it in every year or every quarter.
Can you share a specific example of a failure or setback you experienced and how you turned it into a learning opportunity?
While this was more of a setback than a failure, in the beginning when I was developing recipes, I didn’t test it on kids, I just relied on myself. After debating, eventually I gave it to my friends to try on their children and their little 5 year old kids were critiquing my food. It was funny getting feedback from an actual 5 year old, but I took her comments and fixed the recipe, and this meal, Meatballs and Sauce, became our best seller ! Since then, I always test out our meals to kids first to get their approval before launch.
What are your future plans for your business, and where do you see it in the next five years?
We hope to expand to the neighbouring GCC countries and see our products displayed across supermarkets as well. We hope to become the number one trusted brand by parents when it comes to feeding their child.
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with your personal life, and what tips do you have for achieving a healthy work-life balance?
Surround yourself with the right people, they will be the ones to help you when you are feeling down, they can alleviate the pressure you are under and relieve the stress. Always make time for your personal life, make time to see your friends and family, even if it’s something as simple as phonecall as work will never end, especially if you are a business owner.
How do you stay ahead of market trends and adapt to changes in your industry?
It’s important to keep up with the industry you operate in. I always read the news and discover new trends, and in my particular field I am always looking for ways to innovate as it’s such a niche industry. We are very much into farming and sustainability and have our products meet the related criteria such as having biodegradable packaging and sourcing our produce from local farmers.
What impact has digital transformation had on your business, and how have you leveraged technology to your advantage?
As we do not yet have a physical shop, going digital is the perfect solution. You can use social media to do the advertising, be creative and see what resonates with audiences best and stick with it. We use our digital platforms to stay connected with our customers and offer them tailored advise. We have a few more surprises in next year using the best technology to provide the best solutions to our clients.
Can you discuss the importance of networking and building relationships in your entrepreneurial journey?
Networking is important, especially for someone starting in a new industry. Having friends across various industries can make things easier for you as you move from one business/supplier to another. Those people can provide you with first-hand knowledge and advice that they learned from experience, some of those advices are so valuable as it could help you avoid making costly mistakes.
What role do social responsibility and community engagement play in your business model?
It plays a big role in shaping how I operate the business. For example, with the rates of obesity on the rise, I always find ways to tackle that by first educating parents on childhood obesity and its lifelong risk. It is important to address the problems facing our community and do our best to solve it. To tackle that, we offer foods that are free from any salt, sugar, trans fats, or any nasties. With Bumblebee you can be assured that you are feeding your child clean foods.
How do you handle criticism and feedback, both from customers and within your organization?
I try to balance it and filter out the ones that are counterproductive or spiteful. For example, I was at an exhibition giving away my products for free, I limited it to one product per customer and while all were gracious, one insisted on fighting because they wanted the entire product line for free. This person insulted my staff and starting getting aggressive, and I had to protect my staff so I firmly rejected this person and their criticisms.
