Nada Alshamsi is an Emirati entrepreneur who comes from a challenging childhood and has spent time in government jobs before leaving to pursue entrepreneurship full time. She may seem like the typical new age entrepreneur to an outsider, but her rapid success with her business Huff & Puff Burgers proves that she’s anything but.
She founded Huff & Puff in 2016, and has owned and managed it ever since. The brand was instantly successful and has since expanded to 7 locations with 5 in KSA, 1 in Salalah-Oman, and 1 in Kuwait. The burger chain has also been recognized by Burger Lovers as a “favorite destination’, and customers all across the United Arab Emirates have quickly fallen in love with the burgers Huff & Puff serves.
The quick success of the chain is no coincidence. Nada has worked tirelessly over the last 4 years to manage the chain, stay up to date on social media and global trends to put Huff & Puff at the forefront of innovation and attention, and give back to the community in the process. Huff & Puff has become known for giving back to the community, as Nada frequently donates meals to the poor and helps those in need.
With such an incredible start within the UAE, Nada now has plans for Huff & Puff to grow internationally. She has plans for locations and franchises to be located globally and already has an international trademark in 165 countries to jumpstart that process.
In an age where small businesses have been derailed by COVID-19, Huff & Puff was no different. All locations were forced to be shut down for 3 months, and the restaurant chain took a major hit as a result. Rather than folding, Nada worked harder than ever before to ensure that the restaurant bounced back. She’s always had a mindset of working relentlessly to never give up and find a way to achieve her goals.
With the burger industry being so competitive, Nada knew she had to find a way to stick out from the competition. Utilizing social media and unique branding, Huff & Puff has been able to stick out like a sore thumb to consumers and attract patrons in by the bunches, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nada and Huff & Puff’s success in such a challenging year and in such a competitive industry is no mistake or coincidence. Under her leadership and an incredible business model, Huff & Puff will be thriving for years to come.
