Dedicated Hajj team of local food chain ensured supplies during busy season

It’s been a daily struggle to meet deadlines at the Al-Baik chain of fast food outlets all over Mecca during the Hajj season.

“We have packed only 750 boxes so far and we need to send 4,000 of them in a couple of hours’ time. They will go to a specific camp in Mina,” said supervisor of the Hajj team at a branch on the Jeddah-Mecca highway.

This year, as many as 1,500 members of the Al-Baik Hajj team were dedicated to serving the pilgrims throughout Hajj days.

Dedicated Hajj team of local food chain ensured supplies during busy season Al Baik

This has been the case since the beginning of the Hajj season and is likely to continue at least till Friday (August 24).

But Al-Baik is more than just a Hajj-specific brand. It has built its reputation over the years and continues to beat the competition owing to its consistent quality and affordable price points.

Service of the pilgrims

Founded by Saudi national Shakour AbuGhazalah, Al-Baik claims to have set up among the largest restaurant production capacity globally and, this year, marked “21 years of honor in the service of the pilgrims”.

The homegrown brand was known as Broast Restaurant before becoming Al-Baik in 1986.

Dedicated Hajj team of local food chain ensured supplies during busy season Al Baik

So overwhelming has been the demand for Al-Baik that the restaurant had to, in some branches, limit a maximum of 10 meals per person in order to “implement the community-approved crowd management plan”.

It has also rolled out mobile restaurants to serve at major venues hosting mega events.