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Spinneys launches The Chef’s Counter, featuring chef collaborations like Jun’s Dubai, to support local culinary talent, boost visibility for independent restaurants, and connect customers with the UAE’s evolving food scene.

Spinneys has launched The Chef’s Counter, a new initiative designed to celebrate homegrown culinary talent, foster closer connections with customers and spotlight the individuals shaping the UAE’s evolving food culture. The first collaboration features chef Kelvin from Jun’s Dubai, bringing the restaurant’s contemporary, flavour-forward approach into select Spinneys stores for a limited time.

Independent restaurants and local concepts across the UAE are navigating rising costs and sustained financial pressure, with many founders working harder than ever to keep doors open and teams employed. The Chef’s Counter responds by creating a platform that drives visibility, unlocks new revenue streams and deepens customer engagement at a time when it matters most.

Launching in-store on Wednesday 15 April 2026, customers will be able to experience the collaboration first-hand and connect more directly with the chefs behind the food. For the first week, chef Kelvin will present a curated selection of Jun’s signatures at select Spinneys locations – from a kimchi-crunch salad layered with vibrant greens, tender chicken, bacon and candied walnuts in a punchy dressing, to a playful, protein-forward sandwich built on a shio pan bagel – think croissant meets bagel – stacked with smoked turkey, bacon, fried egg, scallion schmear, pickles and melted cheese. To finish, a brown butter chocolate chip cookie, crisp at the edges, soft within and finished with Maldon salt, rounds out the offering with just the right note of indulgence.

The initiative brings customers closer to the chefs and founders redefining the region’s culinary landscape, while reinforcing Spinneys’ commitment to supporting local businesses and more sustainable food systems. Each week, a new voice will take over the counter, with their products and perspective showcased in-store.

“The Chef’s Counter is about conversation, connection and celebrating the individuals who make the UAE’s food scene so dynamic,” said Warwick Gird, General Manager – Marketing & E-commerce at Spinneys. “At a time when many independent operators are under real pressure, we see a responsibility to use our platform to support them. Launching with Chef Kelvin, whose approach to flavour and hospitality reflects what matters deeply to our customers, sets exactly the tone we want for the series.”

Bringing Jun’s and 852 Bakery favourites into Spinneys through The Chef’s Counter feels incredibly special for our team because it’s coming full circle,” said chef Kelvin Cheung of Jun’s Dubai. “Jun’s has always been about about community, connection and creating dishes that make people feel at home in this city we all share. Spinneys has been part of that story for us from the very beginning, from collaborating on Bodhi’s Lunchboxes for my son, to stopping by the Spinneys salad counter like so many people across Dubai do in the middle of a busy week. At a time when people are craving comfort, familiarity and small moments of togetherness, being able to bring a little bit of Jun’s into neighbourhood stores across the city means a lot. We hope these dishes give people a reason to gather around and remind them that food still has the power to bring us together.”

The Chef’s Counter will continue as an ongoing platform, inviting standout chefs and food founders to share their craft and connect with customers in a more direct, accessible way; championing creativity, local entrepreneurship and the power of food to bring people together.