It’s only a matter of days before Gulfood kicks off at the Dubai World Trade Center in the United Arab Emirates. Billed as “the world’s largest annual food event,” the February 26 to March 2 culinary extravaganza will provide visitors with access to over 5,000 suppliers from five continents serving the US $5 trillion global food industry.
Major buyers and sellers from the Middle East and elsewhere around the world will be wheeling and dealing at Gulfood.More than 95,000 people are expected to attend the 22nd edition of the show, which will feature exhibitors from eight food sectors occupying approximately 100,000 square meters of space. As always, hundreds of frozen food producers and suppliers will be on hand. Among those from the United Arab Emirates are:
Accura International DMCC – American Kitchen Delaware, Agthia Group PJSC Al-Kabeer Group of Companies, Food Emporium, Freshly Frozen Foods Factory LLC, Tyson Foods Inc. Dubai Branch, Emirates Meat Edam, Fusteka General Trading, Global Food Industries and Mezzan Holding Company.
Many Egyptian frozen food companies will also be on the scene, including Al Badr For Investments (FROZENA), Cold Alex, Faragalia Group, Tiba Food United Co. for Food Industries (Montana), and Nile Agricultural Ind. Co. SGA.
Among Saudi Arabian producers in attendance will be Americana Meats, Al-Watania Poultry, Wafrah for Industry and Development, Alfafrost and Astra Food Company.
Present from Lebanon and Qatar will be Widresss S.A.L. and Ocean Fish, respectively, while companies from Oman will include A’Saffa Foods SAOG and Dhofar Poultry Co.
Frozen food companies from Jordan scheduled to exhibit are Al Nabil Food Industries Co., Girona Trading Co (Tiptop) and National Poultry Co.
A significant number of exporters and service providers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and continental Europe will show their stuff at Gulfood. Among them are: Green Island Foods of Ireland; Yearsley Group of the UK; Lutosa, Voly Star and Agroimpex Brussels of Belgium; Doux, Jestin Frozen Meat and Poultry, Bridor, Evia and U-Group/U Food of France; Borrelli S.R.L., Salpa S.A.S. of Italy, and Azienda Agricola Leonardi Giovanni – Acetaia Leonardi of Italy.
Representing commercial interests from other European countries will be Nowaco, Tulip Food Co. and ESS-Food A/S of Denmark; Lamb Weston/Meijer, J.P. Beemsterboer Food Traders, Lamex Foods BV, VanDrie Group and Zandbergen World’s Finest Meat of the Netherlands; Quadrum Foods of Poland; Farmers Land Food GmbH, Wiesenhof International GmbH and Global Meat GmbH & Co. KG of Germany; Mirelite Mirsa Co., Ltd of Hungary; Andalus Gourmet, Ubago Group Mare S.L. and Congelados de Navara S.A. of Spain.
At least three frozen food companies from Cyprus will be among the exhibitors: Lisko Foodstuffs Ltd, Onan S.U. Frozen Foods Ltd and Avgoustinos Food Industry Ltd.
The Kontos Foods booth at Gulfood (No. S3-B47 ion Hall TCA) will display over 50 frozen products, including Tandoori-style Pocket-Less Pita, Greek Lifestyle Flatbread, Gyro breads, grilled Panini breads, French-Style Crepes, and ethnic sweets including assorted Baklava.A number of companies and trade associations from North and South America will be in attendance, including: McCain International, Eximcan Canada, Yorkshire Valley Farms Ltd and Chef Harold Inc. of Canada; Kontos Foods Inc., the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, Cheney Brothers Inc., American Specialty Foods Co. and Chihade International from the United States; the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association, Dinda Foods and Vossko do Brasil Alimentos Congelados Ltda. of Brazil.
Frozen food producers and suppliers from the Indian subcontinent will be well represented in Dubai. Among them are: Allansons Private Limited, Ariba Foods Pvt., Ltd, Bikanervala Foods, Falak Frozen Food Exports Pvt Ltd., Indus Maga Food Park, Iscon Balaji Foods Pvt. Ltd, Taj Frozen Foods India Ltd, Vadilal Industries Ltd. and Vishnukumar Traders Pvt. Ltd of India; Golden Harvest Foods Private Limited, Multi Food Industries and Quick Food Industries (Pvt) Ltd-Monsalwa of Pakistan; Bombay Sweets & Co. Ltd of Bangladesh; and Consolidated Business Systems Limited of Sri Lanka.
Also holding forth will be companies from East Asia. Among them are: Kenala Food Co. Ltd, Qingdao Pan-Kai Import & Export Co., Ltd., Quingdao Sun-Growing Trade Co., Ltd, and Quingdao Sinonut International Ltd. of China; Foodopia Co., Ltd, Tsan Yu Yen Food Co., Ltd, and Young Sun Frozen Foods Co., Ltd of Taiwan; Tee Yih Food Manufacturing Ptd Ltd and Ken Ken Food Manufacturing Ptd Ltd of Singapore; Asian Union Exporting Company Ltd, Sea Wealth Frozen Food Co., Ltd and U-Globe Intertrade Co., Ltd of Thailand; Korina Trade and Foodya Food Co., Ltd of Korea; and Kim Yam Trading & Cold Storage Products Sdn Bhd of Malaysia.
Among seafood companies from the Philippines exhibiting at Gulfood will be Bethany Sales Inc., Brandexports Philippines, Inc., Mega Global Corporation and Century Pacific Food, Inc.
Middle East Key Growth Area
Leading multinational food and beverage manufacturers and distributors doing business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will be in high profile in Dubai, as more than 140 major players come together in Gulfood’s new Power Brands showcase. Among them will be heavyweights including Unilever, Nestlé, Del Monte and IFFCO.
Commenting on the influx of world-class companies at the show, James George, an analyst with Euromonitor International, said: “Producers and distributors alike are looking at the Middle East and North Africa as key growth regions. This is mainly fuelled by a handful of markets – particularly the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.”
With recent Euromonitor data highlighting that the global packaged food market is expected to reach US $2.2 trillion by 2020, George revealed that Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa are prevailing as the most promising growth markets for packaged food sales globally.
“Through new entrants or brand expansion, many brands will look to capitalize on the growth potential that these regions offer. The need for quality products and services will continue to rise as a growing populations increase demand,” stated George.
“The region is a very important market for us,” said Yamila Tawfik, MVF Select’s international business manager. “It’s the connection between Europe and Asia and offers great potential as a fast-growing market for high gastronomic products.”
Poultry Producers Flock to Dubai
Fifteen USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) members, including some of the largest poultry producers in the United States along with trading companies, will hold forth at the Dubai World Trade Center. US producers exported more than $61 million of poultry and egg products to the United Arab Emirates last year.
“Gulfood is one of the fastest-growing international food shows in the world, and our member companies recognize that it’s one of the can’t-miss shows each year,” said USAPEEC President Jim Sumner. “We are excited that we outgrew our exhibit space and have expanded it again this year.”
Exhibitors at Stands D4-34 and F4-33 in Meat & Poultry Hall 4 include AJC International, American Egg Board, Boston Agrex, Crider Foods, Evia Foods, Globex International, Grove Services, Interra International, Intervision Foods, Lamex Foods, Mirasco, Mountaire Farms, Perdue, PMI Foods, and Tyson Foods.
In addition, USAPEEC is sponsoring two Emirates Culinary Guild Salon Culinaire competitions – Arabian Feast and Chicken Practical Cookery – that will feature US turkey and chicken as the main ingredients. Aspiring chefs from around the region will create dishes to be judged by masters of the craft from the Emirates Culinary Guild and World Chefs Association.
Open exclusively to business and trade visitors, Gulfood 2017 show times are 11 AM to 7 PM from February 26 to March 1, and 11 AM to 5 PM on March 2. Visitors are encouraged to pre-register online at www.gulfood.com.
Companies from Brazil will mount their largest Gulfood presence ever during the show’s 22nd running February 26 to March 1.
