Region’s biggest-ever trade show launch to highlight food
logistics, processing, packaging and ingredients sectors
Global food specialists and industry leaders to address
Middle East food safety
Organisers add new halls to meet international demand
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Conceived to capitalise on unprecedented
market demand for the region’s manufacturing, processing, packaging and
ingredients sectors, Gulfood Manufacturing 2014 – being held 9-11 November at
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) – has officially sold out.
Amid steady domestic and regional
growth in the food manufacturing and processing industry, the sector-specific
spin-off of Gulfood – the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade
platform – will debut as the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia’s (MEASA)
biggest-ever trade show launch. With a host of global food manufacturers,
suppliers and service providers requesting exhibition space, organiser DWTC is
adding new halls to cater for intense international demand.
At present, more than 1,000
international suppliers have committed to the specialist show, which is
expected to gather more than 10,000 regional and global trade visitors, as well
another 1,500 delegates who will share the latest industry insights, market
trends and state-of-the-art technology and product innovations in a
cache of niche shows, conferences and technical workshops.
“The Middle East is rightly
viewed as a key growth territory for the global food processing, packaging and manufacturing
sectors,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President, Events &
Exhibitions Department, DWTC. “Gulfood Manufacturing will give international
equipment, logistics and cold chain suppliers a tailored investment platform to
gain an operational foothold in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.”
“Internationally,
the sector is seeing multi-billion dollar investments and Gulfood Manufacturing
will help facilitate and accelerate regional development. The fact the show is
sold out five months ahead of its launch speaks volumes about how international
suppliers, producers and manufacturers in various segmented industry sectors view
the burgeoning regional market. We have listened to our customers and have
committed to extending the debut show’s capacity.”
Similarly
to its Gulfood namesake, the new show will feature a
world-class line-up of international brands including IFFCO, Cargill Europe
BVBA, Markel Bakery Group, Multivac, TNA Packing Solutions, Ishida Europe Ltd.,
Döhler Middle East and CSM Deutschland GmbH. The industry heavyweights will
participate in themed sectors or within more
than 24 national pavilions including Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran,
Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Thailand, India, Italy, Austria,
France, the USA, the UK and Germany – also the show’s Official Country Partner.
With
Dubai already established as the world’s third-largest international re-export
hub, the Dubai Strategic Plan (DSP) 2015 outlines the government’s strategy to
develop sectors earmarked as key contributors to economic growth, such as
transport and logistics.
Best-in-class
infrastructure and a modern distribution network have led Frost & Sullivan to predict the UAE’s
logistics market will reach AED24.5 billion (USD9.4 billion) by the end of
2014, while the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts
nationwide growth and demand will confirm the UAE’s ascent to the world’s sixth
largest international cargo handler in the next six months, moving an estimated
2.75 million tonnes per year.
With the logistics industry a fundamental
contributor to the country’s economic development, Food Logistics Middle East -
one of three focused Gulfood Manufacturing sectors – will highlight key trends
affecting the global sector, such as materials handling, transport and commercial
vehicles, I.T. and technology, warehousing and operators, facilitators and
service providers.
Elsewhere, with processed and packaged foods already
accounting for more than 50% of the GCC’s total food market, ProPack Middle
East and Ingredients Middle East - two additional platforms at the show – will
strengthen the UAE’s position as the region’s driving force in both lucrative
sectors.
The events, which are designed to leverage
local investment in procuring food processing and packaging machinery which
surpassed AED1 billion in 2012, will cover essential ingredients and raw
materials such as meat, fish processing, dairy, beverage, bakery, sweets and
snacks, as well as the entire value chain of packaging distributors and
suppliers.
In addition to the core
exhibitions, Gulfood Manufacturing will host a Food Safety Conference
highlighting issues related to regional food safety. A host of
internationally-acclaimed speakers and key industry figures will be confirmed
in coming weeks.
Gulfood Manufacturing is open
between 10am-6pm from 9-10 November and 10am-5pm on 11 November 2014 at DWTC.
Visitor attendance is free of charge. For more information, please visit www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
