WORLD’S BIGGEST FOOD & HOSPITALITY SHOW BREAKS ITS OWN RECORD WITH 50,000 BRANDS ON BOARD
Following up on its success of past years, Gulfood returned in 2013 with bigger aspirations and successfully garnered the attention of more than 50,000 brands to exhibit at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). It is the major platform for players of the industry ranging from ingredients to finished food, from retail to hospitality services, attracting 61% of visitors from outside United Arab Emirates (UAE), evident of its strategic location at the crossroads of bustling shipping routes across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans as well as good connectivity to the Gulf states, North, South, West and East Africa and Indian subcontinent. It saw a 13% jump from 2012’s show with a record 4,200 exhibitors from 110 countries. The 18th edition of Gulfood was spread across 113,398m., including a specially constructed 12,000m. Zabeel Pavilion exhibition space, enabling companies of processing, packaging and beverage equipments to showcase more of their hi-tech solutions. Gulfood 2013 also saw a great increase of participation from European and South American companies together with hosting new country pavilions from Lithuania, Oman, Ecuador and the UAE.
For countries with a strong orientation on food such as Australia; the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market is one of the largest export destinations and is considered a priority trade market, valued at A$642 million, according to its Ambassador to UAE. The important opportunity is reflected by Gulfood who facilitated trade opportunities for over 120 Australian food businesses at the show this year. France is never off the list in the food industry as it contributes £148 billion to the country’s economy, and represents 1.7 per cent of its GDP and at Gulfood 2013, a record 130 French exhibitors were present to fuel continuous growth for its food, ingredients and equipment to the Middle East region. As for the United States of America, its increase of exports of food and agriculture to the GCC which has grown from US$839 million in 2000 to over US$2.7 billion in 2012 is a reflection of consumers’ preference in US brands together with American producers realising the tremendous export opportunities in the GCC. Argentina echoes these sentiments as it recorded that global food and beverage exports from Argentina had risen by 13.5 per cent from 2003 to 2011, reaching a total of US$26.4 billion in 2011, largely due to producers targeting new business regions like the Middle East.
According to H.E. Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the food and beverage industry is pivotal for UAE’s economy as food consumption in UAE has risen considerably over the years and continuous growth is projected alongside an increase in population and affluence. Which is why Gulfood is important to bring up opportunities for food exports from the UAE as its food manufacturing industries are experiencing positive market success in many world countries. Adding to its industrious profile, a series of four key summits called the Gulfood Conferences were held and it comprised a “Global Food Leaders’ Summit”, “Food Packaging & Food Processing Forum”, “Food Inspection Conference” and “Franchising Workshop” where senior executives of F&B companies, dignitaries and trade professionals convened to learn about and from each other on recent trends and critical issues that affect the industry. Apart from trade, creative process also took the limelight at the Emirates International Salon Culinaire competition, organised by the Emirates Culinary Guild where more than 2,000 individuals competed for honours as evaluated by 25 distinguished international judges while The Baking & Pastry Guild Competition gave recognition for professionals from the region for their skills in baking and patisserie.
The sheer size of the exhibition and its many branches led to the use of technology with time-saving interactive tools that enable users to navigate the floor plan, the use of mobile app to look for specific items and receive news alerts. With the Gulfood Connexions programme, visitors could create personal profiles and make appointments as par t of diary management throughout the show, an appropriate tool for VIPs and industry professionals to maximise time. The all-encompassing Gulfood 2013 certainly did not lack star power as leading companies and brands who participated included Al Rawabi, Choithrams, Barry Callebaut, Bon Caf., Delmonte, Dilmah, Electrolux, General Mills, Hershey’s, IPS, Knorr, Lipton, Masafi, RAK Porcelain, Tetrapak, Sadia, Unilever and Valrhona.
[box style=”rounded” border=”full”] For more information,Payal Keswani
Account Manager
Mojo PR
+97150 770 7635
payal@mojo-me.com
Amelia Naidoo
PR Manager
Dubai World Trade Centre
+971 4 308 6308
Amelia.Naidoo@dwtc.com
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