Spinneys has launched The Chef’s Counter, an initiative that will give space inside select stores to chefs and restaurant founders from across the UAE. The programme is designed to increase visibility for operators, create new revenue streams and bring customers into contact with the people behind the food they eat.
The first collaboration is with chef Kelvin Cheung of Jun’s Dubai. It launches in-store on Wednesday April 15, 2026.
For the first week, chef Kelvin will present a selection of dishes from Jun’s at select Spinneys locations. The menu includes a kimchi-crunch salad with greens, chicken, bacon and candied walnuts in a dressing; a sandwich served on a shio pan bagel – a cross between a croissant and a bagel – with smoked turkey, bacon, fried egg, scallion schmear, pickles and cheese; and a brown butter chocolate chip cookie finished with Maldon salt.
Chef Kelvin of Jun’s Dubai kicks off Spinneys’ new Chef’s Counter Initiative
The initiative comes at a time when independent restaurants and local food concepts across the UAE are dealing with rising costs and sustained financial pressure. Many founders are working to keep their businesses open and their teams employed. The Chef’s Counter is intended to respond to those conditions by offering a platform that provides visibility and access to customers through Spinneys’ store network.
Each week, a new chef or food founder will take over the counter, with their products available in-store.
“The Chef’s Counter is about conversation, connection and celebrating the individuals who make the UAE’s food scene so dynamic. 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,” Warwick Gird, General Manager – Marketing & E-commerce at Spinneys said in a statement.
“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. 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,” Chef Kelvin Cheung of Jun’s Dubai added.
The Chef’s Counter will remain as a continuing platform at Spinneys, with the company inviting chefs and food founders on a rolling basis to share their work and connect with customers. Spinneys said the initiative reinforces its commitment to supporting local businesses and food systems in the UAE.
