Local market rules

As another year rolls by with a meager number of tourists, and more young Lebanese leave the country for greener pastures while those who stay complain of empty pockets, Lebanon’s food and beverage (F&B) sector has had to be resourceful as it determinedly weathers yet another storm. [pullquote]Work is down by almost 40 percent from 2010[/pullquote] The reality on the ground “There is an economic crisis in the whole country, which has affected the F&B sector at all levels, from the snack shops to the clubs, and I would say work is down by almost 40 percent from 2010,” says Toni Rizk, CEO of TRI Concepts, which owns and operates several bars across Lebanon. However, he notes that 2014 was a better year than 2013 in terms of sector activity. According to Tony Ramy, the new president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafés, Night Clubs and Pastries in