Ajman: Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe opens 24th outlet
Ajman: The latest outlet of Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, the UAE-born chain of international coffee shops owned by Thumbay Group, was inaugurated at the Department of Land & Real Estate Regulation, Al Jurf, Ajman on Monday (18th June). The outlet also had the privilege of welcoming H.E. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Nasser Al Nuaimi, Director of the Office of H.H. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi andH.E. Yafea AlFaraj, General Director of the Department of Land & Real Estate Regulation, in the presence of Mr. Farhad. C – Director of Thumbay Group’s Hospitality Division, at the inaugural function.
Introducing the new technology that lets customers get their photos printed on their lattes and cappuccinos, Blends & Brews marked the ‘Year of Zayed’ by printing the photograph of the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, in the first coffee made at the inaugural function.
Welcoming Blends & Brews to the Department of Land & Real Estate Regulation, H.E. Yafea Al Faraj said, “We are happy to have Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe here, to serve the employees and visitors at the department. The outlet has an impressive design and good taste.”
A fast-growing chain of coffee shops with ambitious global expansion plans, Blends & Brews operates multiple coffee shops in the UAE, in addition to an outlet in Hyderabad – India. The growing popularity of the brand has ensured its presence in major shopping malls, offices, universities, government offices, hospitals, health clubs, etc. and the numbers are growing. It has a drive-thru outlet in Ajman, as well as ELITE outlets catering to upmarket customers.
Riding high-on its reputation built over the years, Blends & Brews is pursuing an ambitious expansion plan in the Middle East region, Africa and India, in line with Thumbay Group’s strategic plans. “The strategic plan of Thumbay Group includes the addition of 100 Blends & Brews outlets by 2022, and extend franchise offers to partners in countries including India and the MENA region,” said Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, adding, “We are confident that our UAE-born brand will find acceptance the world over.”
In addition to hot and cold beverages including its signature blends, Blends & Brews also has a short-eats menu designed in accordance with the local palate, to ensure quick service to customers without having them wait. Blends & Brews also has its own range of sugar-free delicacies including drinks, cookies and cakes. The stores are designed as attractive open spaces and the interiors are coffee-themed, based on the concept of modernity. The Baristas are professionals who are keen on giving customers a taste of the brand’s values, besides great coffee.
Commenting on the new coffee shop, Mr. Farhad C, Director of the Hospitality Division of Thumbay Group said, “Like all our other outlets, the new Blends & Brews coffee shoptoo endeavors to provide the best and most satisfying coffee experience to customers. As the brand is growing, our priority is to maintain quality and consistency. We are in the process of innovating new beverages and food menus in line with the trends of the seasons. Moreover, we are focusing on staff quality and retention as well as increased efficiency and profitability.”
About Thumbay Group
Established by the Founder President Dr. Thumbay Moideen in 1998, today Thumbay Group is a diversified international business conglomerate headquartered in Dubai, with presence across 20 sectors of business including Education, Healthcare, Medical Research, Diagnostics, Retail Pharmacy, Health Communications, Retail Opticals, Wellness, Nutrition Stores, Hospitality, Real Estate, Publishing, Technology, Media, Events, Medical Tourism, Trading and Marketing & Distribution. Thumbay Group follows a strategic plan, according to which the Group aims to expand its businesses over ten times, with global presence. The strategic vision plan aims to increase the employee strength to 25,000 by the year 2022.
Hospitality Division
The Hospitality Division of Thumbay Group operates three different brands: The Terrace Restaurant, Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, and Body & Soul Health Club & Spa. The Terrace Restaurant is a multi-cuisine restaurant chain operating multiple outlets across Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah. Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe has outlets in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Hyderabad (India). Body & Soul Health Club & Spa operates five clubs in the UAE, including ‘ELITE’ and ‘LADIES ONLY’ facilities, offering extensive sports, recreation, fitness, health, social and youth programs, with the sixth club slated to open in Fujairah shortly.
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CCI slaps Meta with Rs 213 crore fine over WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update
New Delhi, Nov 18: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on social media major Meta for unfair business ways with respect to WhatsApp privacy policy update done in 2021.
Besides, the competition watchdog has directed Meta to “cease and desist” from anti-competitive practices.
Meta and WhatsApp have also been asked to implement certain behavioural remedies within a defined timeline to address the anti-competition issues, according to a CCI order.
The regulator has called for implementing various remedial measures, including barring WhatsApp from sharing data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or Meta company products for advertising purposes for five years.
Among other directions, CCI has said that sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies or Meta company products for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp services shall not be made a condition for users to access WhatsApp Service in India.
The Competition Commission of India (Commission) on Monday imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on Meta for abusing its dominant position,
Passing the order against abuse of dominance, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said this (penalty) relates to how WhatsApp's 2021 Privacy Policy was implemented and how user data was collected and shared with other Meta companies.
For the case, CCI delineated two relevant markets -- OTT messaging apps through smartphones in India, and online display advertising in India. "Meta Group operating through WhatsApp was found to be dominant in the market for OTT messaging apps through smartphones in India. "Furthermore, it was also found that Meta holds a leading position compared to its competitors in online display advertising in India," CCI said in a release.
Starting from January 2021, WhatsApp notified users about updates to its terms of service and privacy policies.
The in-app notification, effective from February 8, 2021, stated that users were required to accept these terms, including expanded scope of data collection as well as mandatory data sharing with Meta companies, to continue using WhatsApp.
Under the previous privacy policy dated August 25, 2016, WhatsApp users were given the option to decide whether they wanted to share their data with Facebook, the release said.
"However, with the latest policy update in 2021, WhatsApp made data sharing with Meta mandatory for all users, removing the earlier option to opt-out. As a result, users had to accept the new terms, which include data sharing with Meta, in order to continue using the platform," it added.
The watchdog has concluded that the 2021 policy update by WhatsApp on a "take-it-or-leave-it" basis constitutes an imposition of unfair condition under the Competition Act, as it compels all users to accept expanded data collection terms and sharing of data within Meta Group without any opt out.
"Given the network effects and lack of effective alternatives, the 2021 update forces users to comply, undermining their autonomy, and constitutes an abuse of Meta's dominant position. Accordingly, the Commission finds that Meta (through WhatsApp) has contravened Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Act," it said.
Further, CCI said that sharing of WhatsApp users' data between Meta companies for purposes other than providing WhatsApp Service creates an entry barrier for the rivals of Meta and thus, results in denial of market access in the display advertisement market.
According to the regulator, Meta has engaged in leveraging its dominant position in the OTT messaging apps through smartphones to protect its position in the online display advertising market in contravention of the competition law.
CCI has barred WhatsApp from sharing data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or Meta company products for advertising purposes for five years and the debarment period will start from the date of receipt of this order.
With respect to sharing of WhatsApp user data for purposes other than advertising, the regulator said WhatsApp's policy should include a detailed explanation of the user data shared with other Meta companies or Meta company Products.
"This explanation should specify the purpose of data sharing, linking each type of data to its corresponding purpose," it said.
The watchdog also said that sharing of user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies or Meta company products for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp services shall not be made a condition for users to access WhatsApp Service in India.
Regarding sharing of WhatsApp user data for purposes other than for providing WhatsApp services, CCI said all users in India (including users who have accepted 2021 update) will be provided with the choice to manage such data sharing by way of an opt-out option prominently through an in-app notification.
Also, the regulator has asked for the option to review and modify their choice with respect to such sharing of data through a prominent tab in settings of WhatsApp application, and all future policy updates should comply with these requirements.
