BBM donates ‘Studio of Culinary Excellence’ to Maldives national university
Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) has donated a state-of-the-art model kitchen, named the ‘Studio of Culinary Excellence’, to the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS) of The Maldives National University, with the facility officially opening today.
The Studio of Culinary Excellence is a modern, practical learning environment designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to the equipment, technology and working methods used in contemporary professional kitchens. Equipped with professional and industrial kitchen equipment as well as audiovisual facilities, the Studio will support practical culinary education, live demonstrations, chef masterclasses, workshops, industry training and knowledge-sharing.
The initiative was envisioned by Ismail Hilmy, Chairman and Managing Director of BBM, as part of BBM’s broader efforts to contribute to the long-term development of the Maldivian hospitality and culinary sectors. Rather than serving solely as a teaching kitchen, the Studio is intended to become an ongoing platform connecting culinary students with chefs, industry practitioners, emerging technologies and professional kitchen practices.
The project forms part of a series of BBM initiatives undertaken under its banner, “… because tomorrows start today”, reflecting the company’s belief that the strength of tomorrow’s hospitality industry depends on the investments made in people, skills and opportunities today.
“The Maldives has built one of the world’s most recognized hospitality industries, and its future will depend on the people we prepare today to lead it forward,” said AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM. “It is an investment in young people, in practical education and in the future capability of our culinary industry. Through our ‘… because tomorrows start today’ initiatives, we want to create opportunities that connect students and professionals with knowledge, technology and international expertise. We hope that this Studio will continue to serve generations of students, chefs and hospitality professionals for many years to come.”
Speaking on the partnership, Dr Shehenaaz Adam, Vice Chancellor of The Maldives National University, said: “At The Maldives National University, we place great importance on ensuring that our students have opportunities to connect their academic learning with professional practice. For our students, the gap between the classroom and a working resort kitchen has always been the hardest one to close. The Studio of Culinary Excellence closes it. Our students will now train on the same equipment, to the same standards, that they will meet on their first day in the industry. We are grateful to BBM for a partnership that goes well beyond a donation, and we look forward to the Studio becoming a place where the university and the industry learn from each other, share knowledge and contribute to the continued development of the Maldivian hospitality sector.”
Michelin-Starred Chef Romain Dupeyre Leads Inaugural Masterclass
As part of the inaugural programme, BBM is welcoming Chef Romain Dupeyre, Executive Chef and Founder of Racines in Hong Kong, to the Maldives to conduct the Studio’s first masterclass as part of the opening programme on 20 September.
The masterclass will provide FHTS students with an opportunity to learn directly from a Michelin-starred chef and observe professional culinary techniques first-hand. Chefs from across the Maldivian hospitality industry will also participate in the masterclass on an invitation basis.
A native of Nice on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, Chef Dupeyre began his professional culinary journey at the age of 15 as an apprentice at the two-Michelin-starred La Chèvre d’Or. His career later took him through Ireland, Paris, Melbourne and Bangkok before he moved to Hong Kong in 2019, where he led the kitchen at Petrus at Island Shangri-La.
He founded Racines in November 2022, building the restaurant around the culinary traditions of southern France and the Mediterranean. Racines received its first MICHELIN star in 2024 and retained recognition in 2025 and 2026.
Chef Dupeyre’s cooking remains closely connected to his Provençal roots, including childhood dishes such as aioli and ratatouille, which Racines brings into a contemporary setting.
The masterclass reflects one of the central purposes of the Studio of Culinary Excellence: bringing international culinary expertise directly to Maldivian students and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between students, chefs and industry professionals.
Investing in the People Behind Maldivian Hospitality
As a supplier and distributor serving resorts, hotels, restaurants and food-service businesses across the Maldives, BBM works closely with culinary teams and hospitality professionals throughout the country. The Studio extends this relationship beyond the company’s commercial activities into education and skills development.
For BBM, the opening of the Studio marks the beginning of an ongoing initiative rather than a one-off event. Through future masterclasses, workshops and industry collaborations, the company aims to establish the Studio of Culinary Excellence as a platform where the next generation of Maldivian culinary professionals can develop the skills and practical experience needed to pursue careers in one of the country’s most important industries.
BBM is a leading importer and distributor serving the Maldivian hospitality, food-service, retail and professional sectors. The company represents a portfolio of international brands and provides products and solutions to businesses across the Maldives.
Through its “… because tomorrows start today” philosophy, BBM supports initiatives focused on long-term industry development, professional growth and opportunities for the people and communities connected to the Maldivian hospitality sector.
