Stephen Bennett, general manager, Pulsar Foodstuff Trading has been with the company for four years. Here he discusses branching out into a retail space, plus the importance of personalised mini-bar items.
Can you share some details about the company history?
The company started in 1997 operating out of Karama. In 2004 the company started to operate out of Al Quoz industrial area with our name making a slight change from Pulsar Trading to Pulsar Foodstuff Trading. Pulsar Foodstuff grew at a fast but steady pace, never spending beyond our means and always keeping our promise of delivering high quality products on time. By packing locally, we have kept a personal relationship with all our customers.
What products and services do you provide to the hospitality industry?
Pulsar Foodstuff Trading is a supplier of personalised minibar products, bar snacks, guest amenities, gifts and olives from The Gourmet Olive Market. We continue to source new products and develop new mixes.
What factors differentiate the company from other suppliers in the same field?
With almost 20 years of experience in our field we have been through all of the highs and lows. We are best able to guide our customers on product selection, design and customisation. We have the widest range of products available on the market and we only use the highest quality products from trusted HACCP and ISO certified suppliers.
Can you name your top‐seller and some of its key features?
Our personalised minibar products are our top sellers, closely followed by our extensive range of bar snacks. Our nut mixtures are tailored to each hotel and many hotels and restaurants use a variety of different mixes.
Which regions across the Middle East do you supply to, and where are your key source markets for business?
We are currently supplying across the entire GCC, with Qatar and Oman starting to invest heavily in the hospitality sector. Although the UAE always continues to be our main base we have targeted growth throughout the entire region.
What new products and announcements should we know about?
It’s a long time in the pipeline but we have just opened our first retail unit in Mercato Mall. The Gourmet Olive Market will be selling a huge variety of the best olives the world has to offer. We will also have a selection of the world’s finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars, gift hampers and some delightful olive wood trinkets.
What growth do you anticipate to see over the course of the next 12 months?
We are predicting a moderate level of growth over the next 12 months. There continues to be plenty of building of attractions and hotels in the region which will attract tourists to the UAE and GCC. We have also introduced new lines of products which will contribute to our growth.