Our journey to success:
The story of Annie and Danny began in 1998 under the leadership of Mr. Khaled Al-Othaim. Mr. Khaled knew that many European countries, particularly Belgium and Switzerland, produced some of the world's finest chocolates, cakes, and sweets. In these countries, chocolatiers meticulously blended hundreds of flavors, colors, and textures to create exquisite confections, presenting them in ways that appealed to all five senses. These sweets were surprisingly fresh, incredibly elegant, and beautifully crafted.
However, no company in Saudi Arabia produced chocolate of such exceptional quality. Some vendors attempted to import raw cocoa, along with various types of chocolate and other sweets, but local consumers found these products tasteless and flavorless because they had lost their original taste during export.
Mr. Khaled was aware of the high demand for fine chocolates and other confectionery of this caliber. As the son of Sheikh Saleh Al-Othaim, founder of Al-Othaim Holding, Khaled was well-acquainted with many successful businessmen in the Gulf region. This led him to discover that many of these businessmen offered fine chocolates and confectionery to their guests and families. Therefore, he reasoned that if he could establish a company selling the finest Saudi chocolates, prepared locally by European-trained chefs using only the best ingredients, this business would flourish throughout the region.
Since Mr. Khaled graduated from the United States of America in the field of business administration, he also knew how to establish a world-class company, how to take care of his employees and their families, and how to create an elegant customer experience.
Mr. Khaled’s goal was to offer the best chocolates, cakes and macarons in the Kingdom and to give local consumers the same level of quality that is offered throughout Europe.
He began by bringing in a head chef directly from Belgium, a master of chocolate and confectionery. To ensure the high quality of Annie & Dani's products, Khaled insisted on using only the finest, freshest ingredients, presented in elegant boxes and luxurious displays to showcase his creations.
With great pleasure and excitement, Annie & Dani opened their first store in the Al Faiha district of Riyadh in March 1998. Locals and visitors alike were quickly impressed by the quality and value they received. The wide selection of exquisite chocolates, including Belgian, German, and Swiss varieties, delighted everyone who tasted them. French macarons, cakes, and Sabaya chocolates were prominently displayed in the store window, highlighting Annie & Dani's remarkable ability to produce the very best confectionery.
Today, Annie & Dani has expanded to cover more than 30 locations across the Kingdom, and Mr. Khaled Al-Othaim has been recognized as a pioneer in the food and beverage industry, ranking tenth in Forbes Middle East's list. With the help of his executive chef and experienced European chocolatier, Mr. Khaled Al-Othaim continues to innovate and offer the finest European chocolates, cakes, macarons, and other desserts throughout Saudi Arabia.