Three-Day Conference to Feature Industry Insights to Improve
Best Practises and Profitability
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Amid growing regional
demand for specialty food, seafood and sweet and snacks, a contingent of global
food experts will debate market trends and identify growth opportunities for
regional businesses at this year’s Autumn Food & Drink Forum, a specialist conference
running alongside a trio of nice food shows – The Speciality Food Festival 2014, SEAFEX 2014 and Sweets &
Snack 2014 – at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from November 9-11.
Encompassing cutting-edge
presentations, interactive panel discussions and case studies on key
strategies, innovations and solutions for business expansion, the three-day
forum will feature dedicated segments on sector-specific industries such as
coffee, confectionary, seafood and aquaculture, as well wider topics covering
innovative in the food service market, risks and opportunities in the global
food supply chain, and product, ingredient and technology developments.
“The Autumn
Food & Drink Forum is the perfect platform for existing players and
newcomers to the region’s specialised gourmet, seafood and sweets and snacks
sectors to understand market trends and industry dynamics,” said Trixie
LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC.
“This unique, knowledge-exchange event is designed to empower attendees with a
heightened understanding of region-specific trade trends, regulatory insights,
consumer behaviour, business best practises and opportunities to tap into niche
business avenues.”
Due to be attended by
more than 180 leading experts and hundreds of sector-specific professionals,
the forum has been conceived to cater to business leaders and professionals involved in marketing and brand
management, manufacturing and processing, procurement and supply chain, and
packaging and distribution. Representatives will also include food service
providers, hotelier and restaurant owners, head chefs, wholesalers and
retailers, importers and exporters and industry regulators.
The forum’s opening day (Sunday
9 November) will begin with Safwan Saifuddin Al Tikarli, Food Planning &
Studies Specialist at Dubai Municipality, delivering a session on ‘Food Safety
Policies in Dubai, the UAE and GCC’, before Patrick Mannion, President of Innova Marketing, takes to the stage to
evaluate ‘Global and Regional Trends in the Food Industry’.
With the UAE’s seafood consumption among the world’s highest at 51.1 kg
per capita according to the FAO, day one also includes a specialist ‘Seafood Market Focus’ featuring
sessions on investment opportunities in the GCC region’s fisheries sector and
strategies for sustainable aquaculture schemes. Speakers include Dr. Yousouf Al
Suwaidi, Vice Chairman – Board of Directors, Dubai Fisherman’s Co-operative
Association; Izzat Feidi, Fisheries Consultant and former Official of the Food
& Agriculture Oraganisation (FAO); Muhaned Abu Awad, Head of Production,
Emirates Aquatech; and Adolfo Uriarte, Strategic Value Director – Marine Research
Unit, AZTI-Tecnalia.
The forum’s second day (Monday 10 November) features various topics
relating to confectionary, sweets and snacks, and speciality food products such
as coffee and organics. In a session dubbed ‘Technology Advancements & Food
Marketing’, Matxalen Uriarte, Head of Market Value Department – Food Research
Division, AZTI-Tecnalia, will
assess ‘ Advancements in Product, Ingredient and Technology Development for the
F&B Sector’, before Laura Allias-Marie, Founder, Slow Food
Dubai, gives an ‘Introduction to the Slow Food Movement’ – a global non-profit organisation which denounces fast food and strives to
preserve traditional and regional cuisine and
encourages farming of plants, seeds and
livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem.
With local coffee enthusiast, Abdulla Al Gaoud, taking a
session on ‘The Tradition of Coffee in the UAE’, other day two speakers include
Christian Gradnitzer, Corporate Culinary Director, Jumeirah Group, Carlos Delos
Mozos, Executive Chef, Crown Plaza, and Neha Jamani, Founder, Sacred Kitchen, co-chairing
a panel discussion on ‘Food Service Market Innovation’; Annemarie Tiemes,
Education Field Manager, Speciality Coffee Association Europe (SCA), who will
discuss ‘Using Education to Develop the Specialty Coffee Market’, and Dr.
Hannah Selim, Managing Director, Organic Food Trading Company (Prime Organic
LLC), who will evaluate ‘Ingredients for Success in the Region’s Organics
Market.’
Final day (Tuesday 11 November) speakers include Phil Showering, Chief
Operating Officer of Mohebi Logistics, delivering an analysis of ‘Risks and
Opportunities in the Global Food Supply Sector’; Katie Montazeri, Legal
Director, DLA Piper, and Lamiaa Kheirbek, Legal Consultant, DLA Piper,
co-delivering advice on ‘Setting up a Successful Food Franchise Business in the
UAE’, before Leire Baranano, Director – Food Research Division, AZTI-Tecnalia,
and Emiliano Lazzaro, Owner, Chef and Managing Director, Signor Pomidor LLC,
join forces to explore ‘Opportunities for Developing Speciality Food
Businesses’.
This year’s Speciality Food Festival, SEAFEX and Sweets & Snacks Middle East are for
trade and business professionals only and will be open from 10am-6pm on
November 9 and 10, and 10am-5pm on November 11. The Autumn Food & Drink
Forum starts daily at 11am. General public and persons under the age of 21 will
not be permitted entry. Registration is available at the show upon proof of
trade status.
