Twenty-one of the world's finest and brightest food, beverage and hospitality industry pioneers from 3 continents have declared honours at the seventh edition of Gulfood Awards, among the area's most highly-regarded industry distinctions.

More than 1,000 leading market decision-makers, star chefs, key exhibitors, consumers, media and nationwide groups attended a ceremony at the five-star Conrad Dubai hotel, where 18 awards judged by a global panel of 25 independent market specialists and 3 Best Trade Stand winners decided by the Gulfood management group were named.

Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the highly-prestigious Gulfood Awards celebrate both individuals and companies pioneering leadership and development in the international food and drink market. This year's awards attracted more than 300 entries from 30 countries throughout four continents.

Distinctions included: 'Best Newcomer Brand or Business', 'Best New Halal Food' and 'Best Environmental Sustainability Initiative'. Innovation was a key emphasize this year and was acknowledged with awards in 'Products', 'Coffee', 'Fast Food', 'Foodservice' and 'Catering Equipment' among others.

The UAE became the Gulfood Awards' leading winner with 11 business claiming awards. Abu Dhabi-based Agthia Group won the nation's leading entertainer and claimed awards for 'Best New Baked or Confectionery Product', 'Best Foods Company' and 'Best Consumer Marketing Campaign Award'.

With a trio German business scooping 3 awards in the 'Catering Equipment' classifications, Vietnam's TH Food Chain Joint Stock Company won an extraordinary three awards alone consisting of Best New Frozen or Chilled Food, Best Health Education Initiative and the Gulfood Industry Outstanding Achievement Award, which identifies a business or character showing impressive food and beverage market dedication and achievement.

"It is a great honour to win three Gulfood Awards in such distinguished and competitive categories," stated Thai Huong, the Chairwoman of TH Group. "These awards recognise our commitment to deliver a varied range of high quality, natural items to mothers and their kids all over the world, and we are delighted that the TH real MILK brand promise has resonated so strongly with the UAE and Middle East food trade. We hope these awards act as a springboard for TH true MILK products appearing in retailers across the regions and all over the world.".

Companies from Saudi Arabia - Al Watania Poultry for 'Best New Halal Food', Portugal - Mendez Goncalves for Best New Fast Food Product or Innovation, and the UK-- InSinkErator for Best New Foodservice Innovation' - likewise won awards.

Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC, added: "As the region's most in-demand award in the food, beverage and hospitality markets, winning a Gulfood Award makes up market recognition which resonates far beyond the borders of the UAE.".

The winners of the Gulfood Awards 2016 were:

Best New Functional Food or Drink: The Goods Collective & Co., Health Food Distributor, Dubai - UAE
Best New Non-Alcoholic Beverage: EFB FZE Twisst Mocktails, Dubai - UAE
Best New Halal Food: Al Watania Poultry, Saudi Arabia
Best New Fast Food Product or Innovation: Mendez Goncalves, Portugal
Best New Baked or Confectionery Product: Agthia Group PJSC, Abu Dhabi - UAE
Best New Frozen or Chilled Food: TH Food Chain Joint Stock Company, Vietnam
Best Health Education Initiative Award: TH Food Chain Joint Stock Company, Vietnam
Best New Foodservice Innovation Award: InSinkErator, UK
Best Coffee Innovation: Muddle ME, Dubai - UAE
Best Foods Company: Agthia Group PJSC, Abu Dhabi - UAE
Best Newcomer Brand of Business: Heera Group, UAE
Best Environmental Sustainability Initiative Award: Technical Supplies & Services Company LLC, UAE
Best Consumer Marketing Campaign Award: Agthia Group PJSC, Abu Dhabi - UAE
Best New Catering Equipment Innovation Award: MKN Maschinenfabrik Kurt Neubauer GmbH & Co.KG, Germany
Best Sustainable Catering Equipment Innovation Award: VITO AG, Germany
Best Light Equipment Innovation Award: Muddle ME, UAE
Best Heavy Equipment Innovation Award: MKN GmbH & Co.KG, Germany
Gulfood Outstanding Achievement Award: TH Food Chain Joint Stock Company, Vietnam
Best Trade Stand: 12 20 square metres: Anverally & Sons Sri Lanka
Best Trade Stad: 20 50 metres: Al Dahra Agriculture, Abu Dhabi UAE
Best Trade Stand: 50-plus square metres: IFFCO, Dubai - UAE

The Gulfood Awards likewise saw cleanLAB-- a Singaporean company that has actually produced a food safety disinfectant which includes an extremely active food grade oxidiser that neutralises undesirable germs and bacterias - crowned winners of The Innovation Hub sponsored by British Airways and Avios. Held as part of Gulfood's F&B Business Forum-- the opening salvo of the three-day conference programme - the competition saw cleanLAB emerge triumphant from six entrepreneurial finalists that pitched game-changing company concepts to an expert judging panel in a quote to secure start-up financial investment capital.

"New grassroots efforts such as The Innovation Hub will further encourage growing UAE companies to carry out creative ideas that will make an effect in the industry and I have been impressed with the variety of ideas presented," stated Anjulika Dutton, Sales Manager UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Central Asia for British Airways. "Our own research tells us that UAE start-ups and leaders still take advantage of face-to-face conferences to protect business deals worldwide and British Airways will remain to provide SMEs and business owners such as (insert winning firm) with budget-friendly and manageable travel options.".

Gulfood, which runs up until Thursday at DWTC, is the world's biggest yearly food and hospitality trade show. A strategic platform for buyers and sellers to carry out direct business with international contemporaries, the exhibit is a showcase for international completed foods and hospitality equipment suppliers, distributors and merchants throughout all vital sectors of the international food and hospitality market. To find out more, please see www.gulfood.com.