Dubai, UAE, 13 April 2026, 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.

About Spinneys

Spinneys’ story started in 1961 when the first grocery store opened in Al Nasr Square, Dubai. It has since grown to become the leading premium fresh food retailer in the region, with 94 stores (82 owned and 12 operated, including Waitrose) across the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Much loved by expats and locals in the region, Spinneys enjoys a well-deserved reputation for forward thinking, keeping pace with changes in cooking trends and the emergence of new products worldwide. Today, Spinneys has built a name for supplying top-quality produce and offering an elevated level of customer service. Food quality, safety and freshness have always been at the forefront of the Company’s ethos – just one reason the Spinneys brand is defined as ‘The fresher experience’. www.spinneys.com

Instagram: @spinneysuae

Contact

Media Enquiries

Warwick Gird

General Manager - Marketing & E-commerce

communications@spinneys.com

About Jun’s

Located in the heart of Downtown Dubai with views of the Burj Khalifa, Jun’s is a modern dining destination where global flavours meet bold storytelling. Helmed by acclaimed chef Kelvin Cheung, Jun’s offers a distinctive “Third Culture” culinary experience that blends Asian, North American and Middle Eastern influences.

Since opening, Jun’s has become one of the region’s most celebrated restaurants. It has been featured in the Michelin Guide from 2023 to 2025 and has climbed the ranks of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, securing a coveted #8 position in 2026. The restaurant has also earned accolades from Time Out Dubai, What’s On Dubai and the Caterer Awards for Best Asian and Chef of the Year and was honoured by Gault & Millau from 2023-2026 with 2 Toques for its culinary innovation and guest experience.

Jun’s delivers an elevated yet approachable dining experience through bold tasting menus, inventive cocktails, and a warm, design-forward atmosphere. At Jun’s, every dish tells a story celebrating culture, connection, and the joy of sharing a great meal.

Instagram: @junsdubai

About Chef Kelvin Cheung

Chef Kelvin Cheung is a Chinese Canadian culinary visionary, born in Canada, raised between Toronto and Chicago, and currently based in Dubai. A multi-award-winning chef, Cheung is best known for pioneering Third Culture Food in the Middle East – a style of cooking deeply rooted in his Chinese heritage, North American upbringing and French culinary training.

With an early start in kitchens across the U.S., Canada and Belgium, chef Kelvin rose to prominence during his time in India, where he served as Executive Chef at Mumbai’s acclaimed Ellipsis in 2012. Today, he is the Chef and Partner at Jun’s, Little Jun’s, Jooksing and 852 Bakery under the banner of Three Layer Hospitality. At Jun’s, he leads culinary innovation and day-to-day operations, curating immersive dining experiences shaped by global flavours and locally sourced ingredients.

Recognised as a trailblazer in Dubai’s restaurant scene, Jun’s quickly garnered top accolades, including inclusion in the Michelin Guide Dubai, MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants and Gault & Millau UAE. In 2023, Cheung expanded his footprint with the launch of Little Jun’s in Time Out Market, Downtown Dubai, further cementing his status as a creative force in regional gastronomy. He followed this with the launch of Jooksing at Neighbourhood Food Hall in 2025, presenting approachable Chinese-American cuisine that reflects Kelvin’s heritage while showcasing his culinary versatility. In another nod to his heritage, Cheung then opened 852 Bakery, a Hong-Kong inspired bakery with comforting baked goods. 852 Bakery combines creativity, quality and authenticity, with a focus on innovation while staying connected to familiar flavours and traditional techniques.

Named What’s On Dubai’s 2024 Chef of the Year, Caterer Middle East Chef Patron of the Year 2024, and recognised with One Knife by the Best Chef Awards in 2025, Kelvin is celebrated for his boundary-pushing cuisine, his dedication to sustainability – ensuring minimal waste and inclusive menu design – and his advocacy for diversity and wellness in the industry. As a mentor, he is committed to empowering the next generation of chefs, particularly women, and leads by example in championing inclusivity across the culinary world.

Cheung’s recent milestones include cooking for global dignitaries and icons such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NBA stars during the Make-A-Wish Foundation Gala in Abu Dhabi. He was also honoured as a Soneva Star in the Maldives, spotlighting regenerative sustainability practices in partnership with one of the world’s leading eco-resorts.

With a dynamic personality and unwavering values, Chef Kelvin Cheung continues to shape the future of modern dining – one inspired dish, one meaningful cause, and one global collaboration at a time.

Instagram: @chefkelvincheung