Gulfood Manufacturing exhibitors up 35%

Organisers of Gulfood Manufacturing are pitching the show as the region’s largest specialist food manufacturing, ingredients, processing and packaging event. This edition is set to focus on increasing regional food production to reduce the Middle East’s dependence on imports.

Regional and global links​

“Gulfood Manufacturing plays a multi-faceted role for the international industry. For the region, we offer direct access to international technical, product and service providers to continue the development of the fast-growing food manufacturing industry across [the Middle East, Africa and South Asia]​,” said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president for events and exhibitions at Dubai World Trade Centre.

“For the global market, we provide a platform for sourcing of products, such as Halal foods and services, and exceptional new business opportunities for suppliers across all verticals of the industry – from ingredients suppliers and production plant construction to cold chain logistics​,” she added.

Last year more than 26,000 visitors attended Gulfood Manufacturing, making it around a third of the size of its parent show Gulfood, which attracted around 84,000 visitors earlier this year. But its organisers are keen to grow the spin-off show, and are focusing on the industrial end of the food sector.

“It is clear that Gulfood Manufacturing supports the supply-demand dynamics of the industry – and is already considered an essential channel for business. Our hosted buyer programme will bring more than 2,000 key decision makers to Dubai, our exhibitor list has expanded by more than a third in one year, and participation from ministries, government authorities and industry associations underlines the event’s market-shaping stature​,” said LohMirmand.

Five-ring circus​

Alongside Gulfood Manufacturing will be Seafex Middle East, now in its fourth year, the Speciality Food Festival’s sixth edition, and Sweets & Snacks Middle East, the most venerable of the events at nine years old. Sweets & Snacks will see around 300 exhibitors from 40 countries, and will have 30% more floor space than last year, while the Speciality Food Festival and Seafex will host around 200 and 150 exhibitors respectively.

In addition to the trade shows, a conference on the theme of “F&B Innovation, Next Generation Manufacturing and Food Logistics” will feature figures from across the industry in a series of talks and workshops. Organisers say around 1,200 delegates will attend the conference.

The five shows will be held concurrently between 27 and 29 October at Dubai World Trade Centre.