Is the Food & Beverage Industry in Saudi Arabia Maximizing Its Online Visibility and Customer Reputation?

In the highly competitive Food & Beverage world, where choice is just a tap away, a restaurant’s online reputation and visibility on Google often make or break a customer’s decision to visit. But how are Saudi Arabia’s leading restaurant and café chains managing their Google Business Profiles and online feedback?

To find out, we conducted a comprehensive benchmark study, analyzing 6 major Food & Beverage brands, including over 561 locations and more than 366,954 Google reviews. The results shed light on the current state of digital presence, review management, and local SEO performance in the sector.

What’s Inside the Study?

We focused on two key questions:

1. Are Food & Beverage brands in Saudi Arabia effectively managing their online reputation?
   
2. Are their Google listings optimized to drive foot traffic and visibility in local searches?
   

To answer these, we analyzed:

• The average rating per point of sale (4,29/5)
  
• The number of reviews and their distribution across locations
  
• The completeness of listings (photos, opening hours, contact info)
  
• The quality of review management, including how often companies reply and how they handle negative feedback
  

We also highlight best practices, pinpoint common mistakes, and provide actionable recommendations to help companies improve their e-reputation and local SEO.

Key Takeaways

• 70% of Middle Eastern consumers rely on online reviews before making a decision. Yet, many listings remain incomplete or poorly managed.
  
• Listings with more photos and detailed information see significantly more traffic and engagement.
  
• Companies that empower local teams to manage reviews tend to perform better across all KPIs — from higher response rates to improved customer satisfaction.
  
• Using AI-powered tools like Auto Tags allows brands to instantly detect trends in reviews, understand customer sentiment, and identify areas for improvement.

If you have any questions or need help on topics related to e-reputation or your online visibility, do not hesitate to contact us.