The Social Development Bank has successfully concluded an initiative to empower productive families in the culinary sector. The “Almarai Chefs” camp was organized in partnership between SDB — represented by the Dulani Business Center — and Almarai, and ran for five months in Riyadh, supporting 43 participants through 12 expert speakers and 14 specialized consultants.

The program provided intensive training and knowledge-building sessions to equip participants with essential marketing and financial skills, enabling them to establish competitive projects in the Saudi market. It also included more than 215 specialized consultations, the development of brand identities for participating businesses, and educational field visits to explore best industrial practices and emerging trends in the culinary industry.

Sultan Al-Hamidi, CEO of SDB, said: “The Almarai Chefs camp exemplifies the effective partnership between the public and private sectors, forming a comprehensive ecosystem to build the capacities of productive families and enable them to develop and manage entrepreneurial ventures. This initiative aligns with SDB’s efforts to bridge the gap toward entrepreneurship by providing innovative financial solutions and comprehensive empowerment services, thereby enhancing the sustainability of projects and contributing to a dynamic and diversified economy.”

Al-Hamidi added: “SDB takes pride in having provided over SR2.8 billion ($746.5 million) in financing during 2024 to support more than 76,000 productive families and freelancers across the Kingdom. We also focus on delivering non-financial support, such as training and advisory services, to enhance the capabilities of productive families, enabling them to achieve financial independence and successfully enter the labor market.”

Abdullah Al-Badr, CEO of Almarai, said: “Our partnership with the Social Development Bank has yielded a tangible impact in empowering productive families. The Almarai Chefs camp was centered on fostering innovation in the culinary field, enabling small businesses to achieve growth and sustainability in line with market demands. Additionally, it provided necessary training and facilitated access to sales channels, exhibitions, and events, as well as digital applications, helping these projects expand their reach and create new job opportunities.”

SDB is considered a leading institution in empowering productive families and facilitating their transition into entrepreneurship, with the goal of supporting local communities, contributing effectively to the national economy, and achieving sustainable development.