FOODICS: POWERING THE FUTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA’S F&B ECOSYSTEM
Foodics, a homegrown Saudi technology company, has emerged as a powerful force driving digital transformation across the Kingdom’s food and beverage (F&B) sector. Founded in 2014, the Riyadh-based startup has rapidly evolved from a point-of-sale (POS) software solution into a full-fledged, cloud-based ecosystem for restaurants, cafes, and food retailers across the region. Today, Foodics is not just a success story in Saudi Arabia—it is one of the region’s leading tech enablers in the ever-expanding hospitality economy.
At the heart of Foodics lies a strong national vision: to empower business owners, streamline operations, and revolutionize how the F&B industry functions—from inventory and employee management to digital ordering, customer engagement, and real-time analytics. This vision is fully aligned with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious roadmap to diversify its economy through technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
In just a few years, Foodics has risen to become a critical digital infrastructure partner for thousands of restaurants and retail outlets. Through smart innovation, seamless design, and scalable architecture, the company is transforming the way the Kingdom eats, drinks, and does business.
A SAUDI SUCCESS STORY ROOTED IN INNOVATION
Foodics was co-founded by Ahmad Al Zaini and Musab Al Zaini with a singular purpose: to simplify restaurant operations for small and medium-sized businesses in Saudi Arabia. In the early years, the F&B sector across the region lacked integrated digital tools that allowed business owners to run their operations efficiently.
Seeing this gap, the founders designed a cloud-based point-of-sale platform tailored specifically for the Middle East’s food culture and operational needs. Built for touch-screen tablets, Foodics quickly became the go-to POS system for thousands of restaurants, offering a wide array of modules covering sales, menu, inventory, scheduling, and more.
As the product evolved, so did its impact. Foodics expanded beyond POS and developed an entire digital ecosystem: Foodics Pay, Foodics Marketplace, Foodics Capital, and advanced APIs for third-party integration. These tools offered a one-stop-shop for all F&B operational needs—something that was previously fragmented, inconsistent, and largely offline.
DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS BUILT FOR GROWTH
The most compelling aspect of Foodics’ rise is its ability to adapt and innovate in real-time. The company now offers a suite of solutions designed to cover the entire lifecycle of F&B operations:
1. Foodics POS
A sleek, customizable, cloud-based point-of-sale system that streamlines order-taking, billing, and kitchen management. Built to scale with businesses from food trucks to franchise chains.
2. Foodics Pay
A fintech solution offering seamless, integrated payment services. Merchants benefit from centralized reporting, reduced reconciliation times, and cashless, contactless payment options.
3. Foodics Capital
An innovative micro-lending solution where qualified merchants can access fast, shariah-compliant business loans to scale their operations. This service directly supports small businesses—an essential pillar of Vision 2030.
4. Foodics Marketplace
An open API platform that allows third-party developers to create plugins, integrations, and services for Foodics merchants—extending the ecosystem and unlocking cross-platform synergies.
5. Analytics Dashboard
Actionable insights that help restaurateurs monitor performance in real-time, track inventory, understand customer behavior, and forecast revenue.
Through these tools, Foodics empowers its clients to focus less on operations and more on strategy, branding, and growth.
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES & FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS
Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s broader mission to increase SME contribution to GDP and support women in the workforce, Foodics has become an enabler for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds.
In particular, female-owned cafes and food startups across the Kingdom have found in Foodics a reliable partner for digital onboarding. From managing shifts and handling online orders to digital payments and delivery coordination, Foodics helps new business owners enter the market with modern tools.
This support for SMEs is pivotal to the Kingdom’s job creation, self-employment, and economic diversification goals.
EXPANDING ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND BEYOND
From its roots in Riyadh, Foodics has grown to operate in over 20 countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and Oman. The platform currently processes billions of riyals in transactions and has facilitated millions of orders.
In 2022, Foodics secured $170 million in Series C funding, one of the largest for a Saudi tech startup. The round was led by Prosus and Sanabil Investments, a PIF-backed fund, alongside regional investors. This capital injection has allowed Foodics to accelerate its product roadmap, invest in R&D, expand its team, and penetrate new markets.
The company’s global ambitions are clear: to become the premier operating system for F&B businesses not just in the Gulf—but across emerging markets.
INTEGRATING WITH SAUDI VISION 2030
Foodics’ journey perfectly aligns with the goals of Vision 2030, especially in the domains of:
- Digital Transformation: Foodics digitizes traditional F&B workflows, reducing inefficiencies and increasing competitiveness.
- Economic Diversification: It fuels a growing tech economy within the Kingdom, driving employment and export-ready innovation.
- SME Empowerment: By enabling small and mid-sized restaurants with advanced tools, Foodics is key to building a thriving entrepreneurial class.
- Job Creation: Foodics contributes to both direct employment and enables job creation in the restaurant, delivery, and fintech sectors.
The company’s ability to bridge technology and traditional industries makes it a flagship example of Saudi Arabia’s transformation narrative.
EDUCATION, TRAINING & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Foodics is also committed to building local talent and knowledge. The company regularly offers training workshops, tutorials, and business development courses for merchants. Its YouTube channel and blog feature practical tips on everything from kitchen efficiency to customer service strategies.
By investing in education, Foodics not only strengthens its community but fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across the sector.
SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH
In a time when sustainability and responsible consumption are global imperatives, Foodics offers tools that help restaurants minimize waste, optimize procurement, and track carbon-sensitive metrics.
Digital inventory control, real-time sales data, and smart analytics ensure that businesses only order what they need. This reduces spoilage, conserves resources, and enhances profitability—creating a win-win scenario for businesses and the planet.
PRE-CONCLUSION: A VISIONARY PLATFORM WITH A NATIONAL MISSION
As Saudi Arabia continues to position itself as a hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship, companies like Foodics are not just succeeding—they’re leading. With its smart, scalable technology, localized approach, and commitment to customer success, Foodics is redefining what’s possible in the Kingdom’s vibrant F&B landscape.
The company’s ongoing expansion, innovation-driven culture, and strategic alignment with national goals make it a pillar of the new Saudi economy. Whether it’s powering a neighborhood coffee shop or a nationwide franchise, Foodics is helping to write the future of food in the Kingdom—one digital transaction at a time.
CONCLUSION
Foodics is more than just a tech company—it’s a national enabler, a job creator, and a bridge between tradition and technology. In the context of Vision 2030, the company stands as a model for how Saudi businesses can lead with innovation, create real value, and compete on a global stage.
From startup to scale-up, from Riyadh to the world, Foodics exemplifies the Kingdom’s bold new identity: ambitious, digital, and ready for the future.
