Abdulwahed Kooheji is a prominent Bahraini entrepreneur and a franchiser of renowned international brands such as Chili’s, Johnny Carino’s, and the Arsenal Soccer School, as well as the recently launched restaurant The Cacao Lounge and Restaurant set in the RUW corner. He’s the CEO of the International Business Group (IBG) who’s shone within the industry for the past 30 years; with a bigger ambition now than when he started at the young age of 18.
We sat down with Abdulwahed to discuss his path to success, technology, the F&B industry, and the Cacao Lounge and Restaurant.
Can you tell us about your journey that led you to be the CEO of IBG?
The Kooheji family business rooted a mindset in me to be an entrepreneur; I had worked at the Australian Firm Kirkland Whitaker, Fulton Prebon, and Arab Banking Corporation, and was set for a successful career as a banker. But I wanted to work individually and do it my way.
Starting small, I noticed a gap in the Bahraini market and seized the opportunity to fill it. I opened boutiques and imported clothes and accessories from Japan, Germany, and Turkey. A few years ahead in the late 80’s when I was in Miami, I stumbled upon Chili’s, and thought “We need to have that in Bahrain.”
I came back with the plan of opening the first Chili’s franchise in the region with all of my savings. When I went to banks to get funding they didn’t believe in me, and asked how much do you expect to make within the first year, and I responded with “One million.” And as Chili’s launched, the first year brought us a great “1.4 million.” In 1992, we changed the F&B industry in Bahrain, where we started a trend of serving over 200 individual under one restaurant’s ceiling.
Then came Johnny Carinos, Nandos, and Avis Car Rental Services with AlZayani Family. The early success was only the beginning, I had an ambition bigger than myself, and if I had only dreamt of achieving the accessible I wouldn’t be where I am today.
We live in a digital world where our gadgets are an important part of our lives, how do you think technology will impact business in Bahrain?
Technology is rapidly evolving, I remember watching Total Recall (1990), a movie directed by Paul Verhoeven and thought “This man knows the future. He has a vision.” And today, some of the gadgets featured in the movie are existent in our lives. Nowadays, you don’t need an office to run your business anymore.
I believe that Bahrain is a technologically advanced country within the region, the governmental services are all accessible through our smart phones, and that is a great progression point.
As a businessman, what urges you to start businesses in Bahrain rather than any other place in the world?
I have a deep connection with my home country, and I love seeing it flourish. We aim to make Bahrain a tourist destination where tourists enjoy an experience of great food, shopping outlets, and activities where they can leverage and relish in. With the multiple projects being developed around the kingdom, we see an increase of that.
The Cacao Lounge and Restaurant is an original fine dining concept with a cuisine fusing between French and Mediterranean eatery, with an impeccable interior that features over 60 Victorian portraits. Can you share with us the story behind it?
The Cacao Lounge and Restaurant is the fruit of my experience, knowledge, and my passion towards the F&B industry. Through it, we intended to create a classical, and timeless fine dining restaurant, a place that excels in its meal flavour, presentation, great service, and picturesque interior.
What are factors you considered when launching The Cacao Lounge and Restaurant?
Location was one of the factors. I aimed for a secluded place that people come to escape the crowded city and its noise.
The second factor was choosing the chef; I flew several prestigious chefs from across the world, who have graduated from the finest culinary schools in Switzerland, France, and Italy. Then we took them through an assessment process; till I found the one who can cook quality artisan meals and present them to complement the extraordinary interior.
What are three pieces of advice that you would like to share with young entrepreneurs?
- Trust your gut: Trusting your gut means believing in yourself and your ideas even when everyone around you is in disbelief.
- Follow your personal interests: if you build your success on personal interest, you are building a path that you love, therefore you will always reach to grow it more.
- Take risks but take your time in investing in research and educating yourself: whether it’s a new partner, a new industry you want to explore, or a product. Taking risks while trusting your knowledge into it results into either failure or success delivering you a good lesson.