In times of war and adversity, Grapeful emerged as a shining example of resilience and innovation on the global stage when it, as a proud QOOT Cluster member, claimed the prestigious SIAL Innovation Grand Prize Award in 2024. This victory stands as a testament to the strength of Lebanese entrepreneurs, serving as a beacon of hope that reminds the world of Lebanon’s unwavering resilience and innovation, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.
SIAL (Salon International de l’Alimentation) is one of the world’s largest food innovation exhibitions, gathering producers, distributors, restaurateurs, and importers-exporters to showcase their products. Each year, the SIAL Innovation Grand Prize is awarded to products that stand out for their creativity, uniqueness, and contribution to the future of the food industry. This year, Grapeful, with its signature “Original Hummus Bar,” became the first Lebanese brand to ever win this prestigious award, triumphing over 2,200 global competitors.
Grapeful’s Journey to Innovation
For Bahaa Kadamani, the founder of Grapeful, this award represents not only a personal achievement but a significant milestone for Lebanon’s Agri-Food sector.
“Winning the SIAL Innovation Grand Prize Award is a leap for Grapeful and for the Lebanese Agri-Food industry. It’s proof that Lebanese innovation can compete globally,”
Bahaa Kadamani proudly stated.
He acknowledged that the journey began with QOOT’s Agri-Food Innovation Award (AFIA) in 2022, an award recognizing innovation in Lebanon’s Agri-Food sector through expert evaluations and public voting, where Grapeful’s innovation was first acknowledged, further highlighting QOOT Cluster’s visionary commitment to promoting innovative and sustainable advancements in the Agri-Food industry.
The product’s unique combination of chickpeas, tahini, and grape molasses—a tribute to Lebanon’s agricultural heritage—has now made its mark on the world stage.
Looking at trends in the food sector around the world Grapeful company noticed the popularity of Mediterranean recipes, especially Lebanese cuisine. While the focus on using chickpeas, tahini, cardamom, etc as ingredients in their recipes was inspired by global demand for Mediterranean recipes, the use of grape molasses as the sole sweetener was driven by the increasing need to sell the excess crops of grapes of local grape farmers, especially during the instability and crisis periods of the last 5-6 years. The combination of the mentioned needs led us to invest in the snacks category (one of the fastest-growing categories in the food industry) and develop healthy bars recipes from chickpeas and grape molasses to satisfy the needs of both our community and the market.
This creative fusion of tradition and modernity has been at the heart of Grapeful’s mission.
The Key to Innovation: Dedication, Teamwork, and Authenticity
In an industry as competitive as Agri-Food, Bahaa Kadamani emphasized that innovation is the key to survival.
Grapeful’s commitment to creating products that do not replicate anything on the market is a central part of its strategy. They were the first to use chickpeas as a primary ingredient in snack bars and the first to optimize grape molasses as a sole sweetener and binder
However, the road to success was not without its challenges. Bahaa Kadamani shared that the process of developing a new product—from ideation to market readiness—was filled with difficulties.
“It’s a long journey that involves recipe development, sensory optimization, nutritional analysis, packaging, and more. But with dedication, hard work, and the right team, we were able to overcome these obstacles.”
Mr. Bahaa Kadamani
Grapeful’s Future: Expanding Horizons and Embracing New Opportunities
With the SIAL Innovation Award in hand, Grapeful is not slowing down. In fact, Grapeful has set a challenge to always keep innovating.
At SIAL 2024, Grapeful will be launching a new flavor of its Hummus Bar—“Turmeric & Anise Seeds”— that’s high in protein, immunity boosting, and made out of only seven ingredients, along with a groundbreaking new product line, “The Mighty 2 Ingredient Bar,” which features only two ingredients, showcasing the brand’s commitment to simplicity and honesty.
Bahaa Kadamani‘s advice for fellow Lebanese Agri-Food producers striving for similar recognition is simple: execute your ideas; Hesitation is the killer of innovation.
This is where the Power of QOOT Cluster comes into play. As a member, Bahaa Kadamani acknowledges the critical role that this community of Agri-Food visionaries plays in fostering innovation and growth.
“Being part of QOOT Cluster puts us in the front seat of Lebanon’s Agri-Food industry. We share experiences, collaborate, and move towards a common goal of elevating our industry.”
Mr. Bahaa Kadamani
Conclusion: A Bright Future for Lebanese Agri-Food
Grapeful’s win at SIAL 2024 is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and solidarity of Lebanese entrepreneurs. In these challenging times, when Lebanon faces adversity on many fronts, companies like Grapeful remind us that hope shines brightest in the darkest moments. Through innovation, collaboration, and unwavering dedication, Lebanon’s Agri-Food sector continues to make its mark on the world stage, reflecting the strength and determination of its people.