How Cravia cut HR admin time for shift-based F&B teams across four brands in the UAE and KSA
The operator behind Zaatar w Zeit, Cinnabon, Seattle's Best Coffee and Carvel uses ZenHR self-service and one central employee database for 1,600+ team members.
Our job is to clear the path for people so that they can do their job properly.
About Cravia
Cravia started in 2001 with a single Cinnabon bakery in Abu Dhabi. Today it is one of the Middle East’s leading food and beverage operators, running Zaatar w Zeit, Cinnabon, Seattle’s Best Coffee and Carvel across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with 90+ dine-in restaurants and smart kitchens and a team of more than 1,600 people.
The challenge: HR in an industry that never clocks out
Cravia’s people are spread across dozens of locations and shifts, and some restaurants run 24/7. On top of that, the group manages four brands in two countries, each with its own labor law requirements and procedures.
“The F&B industry is very dynamic. You have multiple locations, a diverse team, different shifts, and some restaurants operate 24/7.” — Albrey James
Inheriting a system, and keeping it
When Albrey James joined in early 2025, ZenHR was already running. He evaluated it on accuracy, coverage and flexibility, and it passed.
“The system itself is flexible to your needs, especially when you’re working across multiple brands and multiple locations. On accuracy, we haven’t found any issues, and the system allows you to scale as well.”
ZenHR at Cravia today
- Employee Self-Service: team members and managers handle routine HR needs directly, without routing them through HR.
- A single source of truth: ZenHR is the central employee database across brands and countries, feeding payroll and time and attendance.
More modules are on Cravia’s roadmap.
The results
- Less admin time for frontline teams and managers, so more of the shift goes to guests and food.
- One accurate dataset across the group, with no accuracy issues in a year of use.
- A system that fits a multi-brand, multi-country structure.
- Room to grow with the group’s expansion plans.
“Digital transformation is inevitable, and you cannot hide away from it. The ultimate goal is to create an environment where every employee can do their best and focus on their core job.” — Albrey James
