HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum opens Gulfood Manufacturing 2015

The 2015 editions of Gulfood Manufacturing, the Speciality Food Festival, Sweets & Snacks Middle East and SEAFEX – running at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until Thursday 29 October - were inaugurated today by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and UAE Minister of Finance.

Joining His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum were His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and a number of leading UAE business chiefs and VVIPs.

The largest and most influential trade show for the food manufacturing, processing and packaging sectors of the F&B industry, Gulfood Manufacturing brings more than 1,500 international suppliers from over 56 countries to Dubai.  With more than 30,000 visitors from the fast-growing Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA) region dependent on the show for the sourcing of ingredients, equipment, latest technology and supply chain services, business opportunities for regional food & beverage manufacturers were also being explored through potential licencing and partnership opportunities with international brands and producers.

“There is no doubt that this region represents a hotspot of business opportunity for the F&B industry, and is evident in the global interest that Gulfood Manufacturing has attracted.  The innovations and latest products, technologies and services being showcased here this year could deliver the difference for companies in the region looking to scale, gain market share and deliver better bottom line performance,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events, DWTC.

With more than 31 national pavilions representing companies across the spectrum of food and beverage manufacturing services, countries including Austria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Taiwan, UK and USA will be showcasing a diverse range of raw ingredients, commodities, technology products and the latest function-specific manufacturing and processing equipment available globally.

Running concurrently with Gulfood Manufacturing is a three-day conference programme of highly informative, practical and sector-leading knowledge seminars that will be attended by more than 1,200 delegates.  These include Next Generation Manufacturing, Food Logistics and F&B Innovation.

Running parallel to Gulfood Manufacturing, DWTC’s trio of sectorised food shows have attracted 600 local, regional and international food suppliers from over 60 countries. The shows’ largest-ever pool of exhibiting companies are showcasing thousands of specialist food products to an anticipated three-day crowd of more than 15,000 influential buyers – a group that includes senior product sourcing delegations Jumeirah Group, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Flight Catering, Spinneys, Carrefour and Saudi Arabia’s Manuel Supermarket chain.

“We have raised the bar again this year with our trio of niche food events,” said Khalid Al Fahim, Show Director of the Speciality Food Festival, Sweets & Snacks Middle East and SEAFEX. “In addition to C-Level purchasing delegations from leading regional hospitality and retail brands conducting multi-million dollar product sourcing excursions, our highly-specialised food events feature the UAE’s first-ever National Ibrik Championship, seven Italian masterchefs in thrilling live cooking demonstrations and a series of Italian-themed pizza, risotto, pasta and espresso making competitions at the 7^th Italian Cuisine World Summit.”

With year-on-year growth of 20 per cent in terms of floor-space and total exhibitor participation, the Speciality Food Festival features 200 exhibitors from over 50 countries including a raft of new national pavilions and mega pavilions housing Europe's finest food companies from Italy, France, the UK, Spain and Portugal.