Burger chains have been a staple in both American and international culture for decades. Whether it’s the signature McDonald’s or Burger King chains, or the new powerhouses like Five Guys, In n Out, or Shake Shack, every family has made a trip for cheeseburgers at one point or another.
Now, there’s a new chain shaking up the industry. Huff & Puff burgers, a family-made chain in the United Arab Emirates, has quickly expanded to 11 locations within 4 years of operating.
Nada Alshamsi, an Emirati entrepreneur, founded Huff & Puff in 2016. Since its inception, she’s expanded with 5 locations in KSA, 1 in Salalah-Oman, and 1 in Kuwait, and has been recognized by Burger Lovers as a “favorite burger destination”.
Now that the restaurant is established in the UAE, Nada has plans to expand it internationally. She’s currently working on bringing Huff & Puff to countries all around the world, primarily the United States and parts of Europe. The brand already has an international trademark registered in 165 countries, so Nada is well on her way to accomplishing that goal.
Even with all of Huff & Puff success, Nada admits that she’s had to overcome some obstacles to get the restaurant chain where it’s at today. COVID-19 caused all of the branches to close for over 3 months, and rebounding from that setback was a major challenge. Rather than give in to the circumstances, Nada led Huff & Puff to more success than ever before.
Nada had a difficult childhood, and she’s become incredibly resilient as an entrepreneur as a result. The burger industry is incredibly saturated, and Nada has worked tirelessly over the last 4 years to ensure Huff & Puff is different and unique.
The restaurant has developed one of the best burger recipes and is known for its incredible customer service and fast order times. She says that through all of the ups and downs in business, her ability to never give up, keep pushing through obstacles, and finding a way to make it work has led to her immense success with Huff & Puff.
Now that Huff & Puff is established and poised for international success, Nada focuses more of her time giving back to the community. She provides free meals to the poor and helps those in need on a regular basis, and it’s all a testament to her big heart and incredible selflessness.