Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 Delivers Perfect Recipe for Growing Regional Bakery Sector

In order to remain successful in the fast growing and increasingly competitive bakery sector in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA), businesses across the region are assured of finding the most relevant elements required at Gulfood Manufacturing 2015.  The largest and most influential trade exhibition in the MEASA region for the F&B manufacturing, processing and packaging industry, Gulfood Manufacturing brings together international bakery equipment manufacturers, ingredients and solutions providers to provide easy, convenient and direct access to the latest industry innovations available.

Taking place from 27 – 29 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in Dubai, the three-day show has attracted top industry players including AMF Bakery Systems, Cargill, Fahrat Bakery Equipment, Mecatherm, SABITECH, Symrise, Tonelli Group and VMI, joining over 1,500 companies exhibiting at Gulfood Manufacturing 2015.

“Because we are able to host the world’s leading companies showcasing the latest ingredients, equipment and technology for the bakery industry – as well as every other food manufacturing, processing and packaging sector – regional businesses can save time, money and hassle by travelling to Dubai rather than further afield,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President, Events & Exhibitions Department, DWTC. “With daily flights into the UAE from almost every country, minimal visa entry requirements, excellent hotel accommodation and transport options, and the convenient central location for the show, it makes total business sense to attend Gulfood Manufacturing.” 

From bakery technical consultancy through to ingredients, new product trends and the latest global intelligence, this year’s exhibitors offer a full spectrum of products and services to help bakery businesses grow and thrive.  

Global ingredients and ingredients systems supplier Cargill prides itself on its quality products and partnership approach for its F&B customers.  According to Cargill Europe BVBA: “In the food industry today, growth comes through innovation. From bakery technical ideation through to launch, we offer marketplace knowledge, technical capabilities and bakery ingredients you need to develop breakthrough bakery products that will delight your consumers and help your business success.

“Utilizing our portfolio of flours, sweeteners, oils, fibre and more, Cargill has the formulation capabilities to produce mixes for cakes, brownies, bread and other popular options. And we ensure they perform under a variety of market baking conditions.  We’ve also recently created a new muffin that maintains the satisfying taste and texture of a full fat muffin but reduces the calories and fat substantially, and adds fibre.  There’s a growing market for products like this.” 

With increasing pressure on food businesses to improve operational efficiencies and increase output,  factors such as time, energy and production capacity are key.  French equipment manufacturer VMI will showcase their latest innovation, the double tool kneader at Gulfood.  Claire Auffredou of VMI explained:  “The Kneadster is the simply smarter spiral mixer.  Not only can it be used to prepare a wide variety of recipes, including barely hydrated doughs, with limited kneading time, thanks to its optimized tools the dough is also less heated for even more homogenous mixing.  The energy to drive the bowl is recovered to rotate the tool. Kneadster provides greater work comfort for operators, while its full stainless steel construction with limited retention areas means that cleaning time is significantly reduced.” 

The latest in connected bakery equipment is being showcased by Mecatherm at Gulfood Manufacturing.  Developing, producing and installing ovens, machines and automated production lines for industrial bakery products worldwide, Mecatherm will focus on connected equipment that helps reduce energy consumption and increase machinery performance.  These include start and stop conveyors with sensors, modulating burners that offer precise control with a firing rate that automatically adapts to the oven load, and a stone baked oven that offers allows for continuous loading while preventing steam loss. 

The baked goods landscape in the MEASA regions centres on breads – both unpackaged/artisanal and packaged – with pastries, cakes, and biscuits in particular, enjoying growth at between three and four times the rate of other European markets, according to Euromonitor Research.   Cereals, which are also included in the bakery sector of products, are growing at a slower rate and driven predominantly by upper-income consumers and foreign expatriates.