CEO Today Middle East Awards

Natasha Sideris Founder & MD, The Tashas Group Natasha Sideris is the Founder and Managing Director of The Tashas Group and the maverick of the dining scene in South Africa and now in the UAE. As a member of the third generation of her family in hospitality, Natasha grew up at the side of her father, a restaurateur, learning the business froma young age. She studied Psychology at University and then returned to her true passion, hospitality. In 2005, after many years working in and owning franchised restaurants, she founded tashas, filling a gap in the market for a casual dining concept where the interiors were beautiful, the food genuinely fresh, and the service second to none. From the moment she opened the second tashas, Natasha parted with the cookie-cutter franchising model and created unique signatures for each café while still ensuring that the golden thread of the brand runs through each location, providing guests with a surprising, yet delightful experience basedon threeprinciples: brilliant food, stunningenvironments, engagingly delivered. It’s a recipe that worked. There are currently 17 tashas in South Africa and 4 in the UAE with another set to open in 2020. Showcasing her ability to diversify her skills, she is the mastermind, not only behind tashas, but also Flamingo Room by tashas, Avli by tashas and Galaxy Bar. She’s also notably humble putting her success down to the team that makes up TTG. She’s a stickler for detail and a hound for exceptional quality. Natasha now resides in the UAE, where she oversees the operations of the group. She is passionate about growing the business together with likeminded partners in international markets based on her three core tenets. CEO TODAY MIDDLE EAST AWARDS 2020 Food & Beverages 28