Background: Meeting a Brand on the Rise
In November 2023, at a bustling trade show in Saudi Arabia, the MaiBaoPak (MBP) team met Mohammed, co-founder and owner of one of the country’s leading coffee roasting and café chains.
The brand had been rapidly expanding, riding the wave of specialty coffee culture that has swept the Middle East in recent years. With several café outlets across the Kingdom and ambitious growth plans, the company needed packaging that could match its brand image and operational demands.
Yet despite its success in the coffee business, the brand was facing a familiar set of challenges: fragmented suppliers, inconsistent product quality, and time-consuming procurement cycles. Most of its packaging came from multiple vendors in China, with a smaller portion sourced from local suppliers. Managing so many moving parts drained resources and slowed growth.
The Challenge: Complexity, Costs, and Concerns
When we first sat down with Mohammed and his team, three pain points quickly surfaced:
1. Too many vendors, too much management.
The company was working with different suppliers for paper cups, plastic cups, takeaway boxes, paper bags, and other miscellaneous packaging. Each order required separate negotiations, quality checks, and shipping arrangements. The procurement cycle stretched unnecessarily long, pulling valuable time and focus away from the brand’s growth.
2. High costs and uneven quality.
Even with efforts to manage suppliers individually, overall costs remained high. Quality control standards varied from one supplier to another. The result was uneven product quality, occasional customer complaints, and a lack of confidence in the reliability of supply.
3. Trust issues with Chinese suppliers.
Some past experiences had left the brand dissatisfied. Certain vendors responded poorly to quality complaints and service requests. Mohammed openly admitted he was hesitant to continue sourcing from China and was even considering shifting orders to local suppliers.
At one point during negotiations, Mohammed leaned across the table and told us plainly: “We may just go ahead with local suppliers instead.”
The MBP Solution: Building Trust and Delivering Clarity
We knew that to turn hesitation into confidence, MBP needed to do more than just quote a price.
1. Blending online and offline engagement.
From the first introduction, we invested time in both virtual meetings and in-person visits. This gave Mohammed and his team a clear picture of who we were, how we worked, and what standards we upheld. Transparency and accessibility became the foundation for trust.
2. Offering a true one-stop packaging solution.
Rather than forcing the client to juggle multiple vendors, MBP designed a tailored, all-in-one procurement solution. Drawing on our previous experience with café and bakery chains, we presented a roadmap covering every stage: quotation, design involvement, prototyping, and mass production. With one supplier handling everything under one quality system, the brand could save time, reduce risks, and cut costs without sacrificing quality.
3. Balancing quality and cost with clarity.
We tackled the brand’s second pain point head-on. MBP’s proposal outlined transparent pricing with no hidden fees. We also provided visual quality comparison frameworks so the client could see the trade-offs between different materials, finishes, and price points. Most importantly, our QC team agreed with the client on detailed standards before production even began. This alignment carried through every stage of the order, ensuring the final packaging matched expectations.
The shift in atmosphere was clear. What began with skepticism gradually evolved into constructive problem-solving.
Why the Client Chose MBP
After weeks of discussions and evaluations, Mohammed’s team made the decision to move forward with MBP. Their reasons echoed what many of our long-term partners have found valuable:
1. Proven expertise in foodservice packaging.
MBP’s years of experience in one-stop custom packaging, particularly for cafés and bakeries, reassured the client that we could manage complexity and scale effectively.
2. Deep roots in the Middle East market.
Because MBP has long invested in building relationships and serving brands across Saudi Arabia, we could show tangible case studies and testimonials. Other local brands vouched for our reliability, which significantly influenced Mohammed’s decision.
3. Flexibility and transparency.
Even when the client questioned our sampling costs or compared our quotes to others, we listened, explained, and adjusted. That openness built trust. As Mohammed later said: “We believe this cooperation is the start of a long-term partnership—no question about it.”
Results: Saving Time, Earning Trust, Building Growth
The impact of the collaboration was felt almost immediately:
1. Shorter procurement cycles, less management burden.
With one streamlined supplier, the client reduced procurement time and freed up internal resources. The team could shift their attention from chasing suppliers to focusing on brand expansion.
2. Positive team feedback.
The new packaging wasn’t just efficient—it was admired. Maha, the brand’s operations manager, summed it up best: “We also really like all the packaging materials!”
3. A foundation for long-term cooperation.
This partnership quickly grew beyond a single order. Within months, the client had become one of MBP’s top three accounts in Saudi Arabia by order volume. We are now working with Mohammed’s team on an annual cooperation framework agreement—proof that initial skepticism has transformed into long-term confidence.
Looking Ahead
For MBP, this case is about more than closing a deal. It illustrates the importance of listening carefully, addressing doubts with transparency, and delivering solutions that genuinely fit the client’s needs.
By turning fragmented procurement into a streamlined one-stop solution, MBP not only reduced costs and complexity but also strengthened the client’s trust in sourcing from China again. And for Mohammed and his brand, the partnership means more time to focus on what they do best: crafting great coffee and growing their café culture across Saudi Arabia.
Are you a foodservice brand looking to simplify your packaging procurement, cut costs, and ensure consistent quality—without the headaches of managing multiple suppliers?
MaiBaoPak specializes in one-stop custom packaging solutions for cafés, restaurants, and food chains across the Middle East and beyond.
Post time: Sep-22-2025