Gulfood, the world's most significant annual food and hospitality trade platform, has actually set its own brand-new record by confirming its biggest nation and structure line-up to date for the 2016 occasion, which runs February 21-25 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

This 2016 show will feature 117 pavilions-- 5 more than in 2014-- with novice group involvement from Russia, Costa Rica, Belarus, Mauritius and New Zealand, the Oceania country returning after a six-year break.

"The large scale of the structures and their comprehensive membership lives up to our promise of delivering more taste, more trends and more trade," described Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC. "The variety of new services and products on offer is as varied as the geographical spread of structure individuals-- the perfect mix to yield fresh business chances for professionals operating throughout the entire international food industry and hospitality supply chain.".

Italy will operate the event's biggest structure with more than 190 business occupying a 3,956 square metre nationwide pavilion, while a couple of Italian producers will go-it-alone with specialised stands. At Gulfood 2016, Italy is concentrating on ultra-high-end product offerings from fresh fruits and vegetables, to milk-- primarily cheese-- pulses, dried and canned foods, dried and frozen foods, grocery products, olive oils and vinegar, juices, sugary foods and snacks. The Italian structure will likewise host numerous specialist manufacturers of hospitality devices and coffee and gelato equipment.

"The UAE is the Italian food market's fastest growing market," added LohMirmand. "Italian food item sales to the Emirates have actually grown gradually increasing 31.1 % in 2012, an additional 39.5 % in 2013 and once more by 9 % in 2014 to reach EUR241.3 million.

"Italian interest in Gulfood's market outreach simply continues growing. Customers across the Emirates stay a vital focus for Italy, as does the UAE's ability to re-export to a larger area of over two billion consumers in Africa and Asia. The UAE in particular remains very appealing because of huge prospective tourism advancement - including scores of new hotels and numerous brand-new restaurants - related to EXPO Dubai 2020, when the city's overall number of dining establishment outlets will double to cater to upwards of 20 million visitors.".

Turkey will also be out in force at Gulfood 2016 with 103 exhibitors marketing drinks and drink devices, finished food and beverage products, food service hospitality and restaurant and caf equipment.

"Over the past couple of years, Turkey has made significant inroads into the UAE's food and beverage, hospitality and mass grocery retail sector," said LohMirmand. "Turkish fruit and vegetables is now familiar on supermarkets shelves, while a myriad of Turkish cuisine and hospitality outlets - contributing to the high-profile entrance of the country's Rixos hotels group to the region - are open and carrying out. The Turkish chamber of commerce has actually made clear of its members' aspirations to make sure food exports to the UAE reach United States $250 million this year. This represents a 20 % jump on 2014 levels, a strong Gulfood push is anticipated to play a function in conference those purposes.".

The Netherlands once more has a strong presence at Gulfood 2016 with the Holland Pavilion organised by the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH)-- a Gulfood stalwart having displayed every year since 1995-- real estate 54 companies throughout the dairy products, deep-frozen, fresh veggies, fresh/deep-frozen meat, saves, traders, oils, sauces, grocery, fine food and drinks sector. The council is seeking to grow Dutch food exports to the UAE - currently worth US $360 million a year.

The UK has its eyes firmly fixed on the Emirates' surging hospitality sector with the UK Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) packing 24 business into a 330 square metre structure that is 40 % larger than its 2015 offering.

"Our exhibitor are mainly makers and suppliers of light and heavy foodservice equipment and service business," stated Keith Warren, Director, CESA. "The UAE is a significant buyer of UK devices because of its top quality and pre-and-post sales support-- crucial locations we want to capitalise on.".
With the global food market considering Africa as the next significant investment opportunity, Kenya is boosting its Gulfood presence with a structure 48 % larger than in 2014 that will focus mostly on tea and coffee produce, while Egypt is weighing in with 125 business covering a multi-commodity profile consisting of freshly frozen vegetables and fruit, confectionery, milk and dates.

In today's ultra-competitive worldwide grocery store, a series of extremely focused smaller sized pavilion promos are hoping to record a share of the Gulfood spotlight from the traditional food industry superpowers. Western Australia's Department of Agriculture and Food is leading 10 business at the show all intent on local company matching for brand-new product varieties.

"The UAE was Western Australia's ninth largest market for food and drink items last year but UAE stats do not offer the complete picture of its significance," explained Carolyn Hine, Liaison Officer, Food, Trade and Agribusiness, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. "The UAE's status as a strategic trading center to reach other Gulf, Middle Eastern and African countries make it a really distinct market and we relate to the UAE as the local food hub since it imports over 85 % of its total food requirements and re-exports over 60 % of all food imports to the wider Middle East region.".

Back for its 3rd Gulfood promotion, the small Eastern European state of Moldova is planning to broaden its export reach for a vast array of agricultural and processed foodstuff that currently represent 40 % of the nation's GDP.

"We are extremely enthusiastic about this year's program where we will have approximately 9 companies, producers and traders representing the country under our 'Taste Makes the Difference' promotion," stated a Peter White, Market Linkage Specialist ACED, Moldova. "This is the automobile of differentiation for our items comparative to other supply nations. Our focus this year will be processed products in addition to a couple of select fresh commodities. We have learned that this show is very crazy about components, processed products and fresh offerings.

"The Gulf has shown to be an extremely strong market for a variety of our items and we're excited to broaden upon this and make use of Gulfood as the platform to increase the visibility of the agricultural country of Moldova, which is little in size however huge on item taste.".
A 117-strong spread of pavilions is only part of the Gulfood 2016 story; in all, more than 5,000 global business from 120 nations will participate in the 21st edition of the occasion.

"It's no understatement to state that this program truly does provide a world of chance for the 85,000 plus food and drink, wholesale, retail, distribution and hospitality specialists we anticipate ending up from five continents," added LohMirmand. "Gulfood is an industry-wide platform that produces trade and throws up deep understandings into industry trends, consisting of supply chain and import patterns.".

Gulfood 2016 is a strictly trade-only occasion for business and trade visitors. The show is open 11am-7pm from February 21-24 and 11am-5pm on February 25. Visitors can pre-register at www.gulfood.com to save AED100 (US$ 27) on the AED300 (US$ 81.70) on-site entry cost.