The Middle East and North African (MENA) region (excluding sub-saharan Africa) has been predicted to lead the global health and wellness packaged food market growth over the next five years, according to an international study.
Experts have identified convenience, experience and personalisation as the key trends that food businesses need to pay attention to in order to retain customer loyalty amidst the rapid evolution of the Middle Eastern F&B market.
UAE specialist free-from brand Freakin' Healthy is on a mission to tackle the four major obstacles currently challenging the healthy snacks industry, said its founder and CEO.
UAE mineral water market leader Agthia has stepped up its sustainability efforts with the announcement of new long-term goals and partnerships targeted at reducing negative impacts on the environment.
Be interesting, be passionate and be unique. These are among the top tips for start-ups when seeking to work with MNCs, according to a panel of top food and beverage industry leaders.
The Gulfood Innovation Awards 2019 saw each of 12 companies go home with one of the much sought-after awards in the bag. We caught up with all the winners after the show to find out more about their secrets to success.
Award-winning United Arab Emirates (UAE) food firm Global Food Industries (GFI) says the quality of its innovation, health focus and plant-based options will help drive its expansion outside of the Middle East.
Health and wellness and affordability are the key focus trends that consumers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region are demanding, according to an executive at NZMP.
Turkey’s first plant-based specialist FOMILK has big plans to expand in the Middle East and beyond, driven by its non-dairy product range that it believes meets a whole host of health and wellness trends.
The brains behind OLIO's successful Food Waste Heroes programme - where volunteers collect surplus food from local businesses and share it with fellow members in their local communities – has given his top tips on how food and beverage start-ups...
The Gulfood Innovation Awards 2019 saw each of 12 companies go home with one of the much sought-after awards in the bag. We caught up with all the winners after the show to find out more about their secrets to success.
Blockchain and artificial intelligence are set to play ever more significant roles in the food industry, including in food security and diversification, said a panel of industry and technology experts.
Add another flagship store to Pierre Marcolini’s 40-plus portfolio: the Brussels-based chocolatier opened a brand new shop on the ground floor of the world’s biggest mall, in Dubai.
Middle Eastern mineral water giant Agthia Group is focusing on functional benefits with its latest product launches, with intentions to expand further into the APAC market.
A panel of experts have identified experience and social media as key factors to capturing the youth and women consumer segments in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian consumers are becoming increasingly savvy when seeking out food and beverage bargains, and are also demanding new products with a stronger health focus.
The UAE has introduced a new resolution which prohibits the import and re-export of shark meat, with trade now only permitted if the freight forwarder presents the required shipping documents.
The UAE has filed a complaint against Qatar at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), claiming that the latter’s ban against UAE products, including food items, was inconsistent with international laws.
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched the ‘Fat, Sugar and Salt reduction Initiative in Qatar” to cut such content in food and beverages – both locally manufactured goods and those imported.
Fears are mounting that a big chunk of India’s food exports would be hit after suggestions emerged that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would halt billions of dollars of imports because of issues surrounding quality.
Last week, the UAE Ministry of Education published a list of food items that are no longer allowed for sale in schools, including chocolate, soft drinks and fries.
UAE-based importer Truebell is offering at least seven new products to the country this year – including tea from the UK and probiotic beverages from Japan.
The UAE Cabinet has implemented a blanket ban on the advertising of infant formula and other infant nutrition products, including follow-up formula and complementary foods.
Gaya Gold has partnered with Ardagh Group to launch a redesigned ice coffee packaging in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) with plans to take it to other Middle Eastern markets.
We look at the top 10 Middle East stories of 2018, featuring developments in major food brands, to the use of blockchain technology, and regulatory changes.
Demographic changes and the increasing health challenges seen in Saudi Arabia will provide new opportunities for food and beverage growth, but firms have been warned that brand loyalty may be a thing of the past.
Dubai-based International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) will exchange its knowledge, expertise and develop mechanisms for technical work with two other agencies, in order to promote the global halal trade.
Start small, think big: That’s the key advice for food firms and their suppliers which are seeking to digitise and automate their factories, according to Saudi food and beverage packaging firm Obeikan.
Food and beverage manufacturers should not only focus on product innovation to meet changing consumer demands, but also upgrade their production capabilities and adopt flexible arrangements.
Thermonox, a food and beverage packaging machine manufacturer based in Istanbul, hopes to recoup losses in its domestic market by ramping up overseas exports.
The UAE brand, which successfully debuted in 2008 and entered the global market in 2009, produces chocolate ‘of the very highest quality’ using camel milk as the core ingredient.
Iranian dairy firm Dorin Poudr Company, which manufactures and sells dairy products under its flagship brand Calin, is setting its sights on entering the Oman market.
Iran’s export to Iraq, including food products, grew by 30% in the last seven months, the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce announced last week. Trade ties is set to deepen, despite US sanctions against Iran.
Food and beverage manufacturers in the Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are beginning to acknowledge the need to reformulate around sugar reduction, according to Tate and Lyle.
The global halal certification system is increasing costs for manufacturers, largely due to the lack of international alignment, according to the State of the Islamic Economy Report 2018/19.
Majid Al Futtaim, a Dubai-based conglomerate which operates supermarkets as part of its business, is partnering with online store Wadi Grocery to build its presence in Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce space.
Fruits are the go-to flavours in the Middle East food and beverage market, especially in the carbonated drinks segment, according to one ingredient firm.