news-details

GULFOOD comes of age for milestone 21st outing

This week marks a coming-of-age for Gulfood - one of the world's leading food trading platforms - which commemorates its 21st edition at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) with a record exhibitor and pavilion line-up providing more tastes, more patterns and more trade.

The multi-channel event, that includes the 3rd edition of Halal World Food - now the world's biggest yearly Halal food sourcing trade occasion - will feature 5,000 international companies from 120 countries and 117 trade and industry pavilions.

The exhibitor line-up consists of finished food manufacturers, bulk commodity wholesalers, suppliers and exporters, and the show's largest-ever collection of hospitality equipment providers. The 5,000-plus companies will inhabit in excess of 1.29 million square feet of world-class, multi-functional indoor exhibit area consisting of two purpose-built, momentary structures and broadened indoor exhibition space across 3 brand-new DWTC halls - Za'abeel 4, 5 and 6.

"The rise of Gulfood is down to a number of vital factors including Dubai's international standing as an import and re-export center, the emirate's growing sea-air transportation links broadening its geographic trading footprint and the strategic importance put on the domestic and local tourism and hospitality industries," explained Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC.

"Multiply these drivers by rapid population growth, food security concerns and the development in food production and processing in the UAE, the broader region and emerging countries for which Dubai is now a sourcing center and you understand why Gulfood is now internationally-recognised as the strategic trading platform for the global food market.".

With a current pipeline file from benchmarking index STR Global recognizing some 538 hotels are under construction in the Middle East and another 321 are under contract in Africa, the record reaction to Gulfood mirrors the widespread financial investment in the hotel and hospitality markets that are driving regional states' financial diversification policies.

Continuing its progressed status as a weathervane to hospitality and food sector patterns, Gulfood 2016 features a raft of new exhibitors, expanded participation by returnees and a wealth of new-to-market items.

"For the retail, foodservice, catering and hospitality industries, Gulfood provides an incredible sourcing chance with numerous brand-new item launches, developments in health and unique diet plan, and an even larger range of ethnic and speciality foods," included LohMirmand. "For the wholesale, food import and export buyers, the multi-million dollar deals made at Gulfood will set rates benchmarks throughout 2016. This is why market-makers and the most significant traders from all over the world participate in Gulfood - it's where the big deals are made, company to company and nation to nation.".

The importance of Gulfood as a global trading platform is demonstrated by the 117 national and food export industry groups attending this year's event. These structures consist of first-time representation from Russia, Costa Rica, Belarus, Mauritius and New Zealand returning after a six-year break.

Russia's Gulfood debut is being led by the Federation's Minister of Agriculture, His Excellency Alexander Tkachev and marks the launch of an international export sales push for the nation's leading food manufacturers. The Russian item line-up consists of a variety of frozen and cooled meat and poultry items including frozen Halal chicken and beef, milk and dairy products, yogurts, cheeses and seed oils.

Japan, buoyed by record 2015 agricultural, forestry and fishery exports to the UAE amounting to AED 214 million (US $58.3 million), has actually broadened its pavilion by 150 per cent. The Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO)-led promotion will include 27 primarily new to the region business with a strong concentrate on Halal and health-related products and genuine Wagyu beef suppliers.

Eighty Brazilian business are seeking to build on the country's 2015 exports to the GCC reaching practically US $4 billion, with the UAE absorbing nearly a 3rd. Structure individuals will ensure a huge range of items from poultry to fruit, dairy, confectionery and pastry, while the pavilion will have two dining establishments-- a steakhouse BBQ and general food outlet where a Brazilian chef will prepare normal food and shawarma with Brazilian chicken.

Gulfood stalwart France has 71 food and drink business and 28 foodservice devices suppliers in a structure where experts in the Saudi Arabian, Lebanese, Egyptian, Indian and Kenyan markets will be on hand to facilitate business. French food, drink and hospitality exports to the UAE have actually shown year-on-year growth considering that 2009 with the trade rising by 10 per cent in 2014.

Meanwhile, Spain is introducing its greatest ever Gulfood campaign throughout a tremendous 1,404 square metres of exhibition space. Under the umbrella of the Spanish Trade and Investment body (ICEX), 197 food business are taking part at the program, whilst the Spanish Exporting Manufacturers Association for the Hospitality Industry (AFEHC) is bringing another 28 specialist hospitality and foodservice equipment companies.

The Spaniards will roll out a large array of hospitality and catering devices, from ice makers and fire doors, to food storage and containers, combi ovens, blast chillers, drink cellers, commercial washers to juicers.

Enduring Gulfood partner Egypt has 125 business at the show and a much broader, multi-commodities exhibitor profile ranging from newly frozen vegetables and fruit to chocolate biscuits, milk and dates.

Pakistan's revitalised food and drink agricultural industry is introducing a major export push at the program with 51 Pakistani business in a country structure led by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The nation's Gulfood pavilion has grown from a mere 90 square metres in 2015 to 450 square metres this year, reflecting the development of a significant exporting sector that is now tough fabrics as Pakistan's main forex earner with around the world sales topping United States $5 billion last year.

Pakistani exhibitors will be wanting to source new buyers for a huge range of products including rice, sauces, nuts, frozen foods, sweets, confectionery and tea. Pakistani participation expansion comes as the nation attained a 27 percent increase in the nation's food and beverage exports to the UAE alone over the past 2 years. The sector is now availabling simply short of United States $461 million worth of food and beverage to the Emirates each year.

Gulfood will also host the ninth World Cezve/ Ibrik Championship, where the UAE's undefeated Cezve/ Ibrik coffee-making champ, Karthikeyan Ranjedran, will pin his hopes on a genetically-engineered Kenyan coffee bean as he seeks to ward off 20 worldwide oppositions and secure his adopted homeland's first World Cezve/ Ibrik Championship title. Owned and arranged by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), Gulfood's hosting of the competition, committed to the centuries-old art of brewing coffee in a 'Cezve' or 'Ibrik' - the little, long-handled pot-- marks the contest's Middle East debut.

Coffee trading is high on Gulfood's program with Euromonitor International forecasting the UAE's coffee market alone will grow by over 30 per cent in the next four years as Dubai becomes a crucial supply gear in the international supply chain. With domestic demand continuing an upward rise with over 4,000 tea and coffee houses now operating in the country and 82 per-cent of the population saying they consume coffee every day, according to the F&B online resource Zagat, the UAE is significantly viewed as both a growing consumer and re-export market for coffee beans and improved end product.

Euromonitor says the country sits at the centre of an area which now represents 8 per-cent - or US $6.5 billion - of the US $85 billion global consumer invest in coffee. Vitally, this might enhance by approximately a third by 2030.

Of the 70 coffee producing nations worldwide, major exporters Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Columbia, Ethiopia, India and Mexico will be present at Gulfood 2016, while purchasing delegations from the world's largest traditional importers - the United States and Japan - will connect with expert coffee trading, roasting and product packaging companies from emerging markets across the MENA region, South Asia and Africa.

Halal is another big Gulfood 2016 focus and over 800 Halal certified companies are within the Halal World Food show-in-a-show, while the revamped Gulfood conference programme will include the Gulfood Halal Forum to name a few devoted vertical sessions being held until Wednesday.

The conference program also includes the F&B Business Forum, which debuts on Sunday and features The Innovation Hub sponsored by British Airways and Avios. The Innovation Hub will see chosen business owners pitch game-changing business ideas to a specialist judging panel in a quote to walk away with start-up investment capital.

"The Innovation Hub is a springboard for fledgling entrepreneurs to raise their companies-- active or nascent-- to the next level," stated Melanie Mingas, Group Editor of conference producers, BNC Publishing. "It's an effort clearly lined up to Gulfood's capability to unearth more market patterns and help propel more trade forward.".

The show-floor cooking demos will peak at the yearly Emirates Culinary Guild International Salon Culinaire-- a showcase of the region's finest cooking talent and proficiency. Among Gulfood's undisputed draws for the areas' top professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and bakers, this year's Salon will see more than 1,300 professional chefs evaluated by a panel of 25 distinguished specialists, mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) to judge cooking events around the world.

With the number of F&B outlets in the UAE anticipated to double by 2020 when Dubai wishes to receive 20 million travelers as the emirate hosts Expo Dubai 2020-- food service and hospitality equipment is an expanded focus at Gulfood 2016.

Every year, countless F&B products and services debut at Gulfood and the 7th Gulfood Awards will recognise best-in-class excellence of individuals and companies behind the region's leadership and development in the food and drink industry. Judged by a worldwide panel of independent market experts, the Gulfood Awards cover 6 classifications and 10 accolades.

Gulfood 2016 is anticipated to also draw a record trade attendance of more than 85,000 visitors from over 170 nations including global heads of state, ministers, government officials and national trade associations from 5 continents.

Related News Post