GULFOOD MANUFACTURING 2015 TO DRIVE REGION’S FOOD PROCESSING, PACKAGING & MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

More than 1,500 International Suppliers & Providers Bring Global Ingredients, Equipment and Innovation Solutions to MEASA’s Biggest F&B Processing Event

As the global F&B industry seeks new markets for both sourcing and supplying, the importance of Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 - the Middle East’s biggest food manufacturing, ingredients, processing and packaging exhibition - has never been greater.

Running 27 – 29 October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Gulfood Manufacturing was established only last year but is already regarded as the most influential and largest industry show for its sector throughout the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA) region. In-line with global food manufacturing trends, Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 will address issues including food security, sustainability, speed and efficiency of production, and logistics and transport factors involved in time to market.

With year-on-year exhibitor growth of more than 35 per cent on the event’s inaugural edition last year, more than 1,500 international food manufacturers, suppliers and industry service providers will participate at Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 – a strong indication of both market potential and demand.

National pavilions include representation from more than 26 countries including Germany, Austria, China, Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, India, Italy, the USA and the UK. Local, regional and global trade professionals visiting the show are expected to exceed the 26,329 visitors from 156 countries recorded last year, while another 1,200 delegates will hear from an extensive line-up of international industry experts providing valuable insights at an extended series of conferences - F&B Innovation, Next Generation Manufacturing and Food Logistics - workshops and niche exhibitions running concurrently with Gulfood Manufacturing.

Globally, food manufacturing and its associated industries continue to play a significant role in the growth of economies, whether developed or emerging. Increasing global populations, rising living standards, changing consumption patterns and continued modernisation of the value chain in many parts of the world continues to drive growth and opportunities.

In the GCC alone, the population is expected to reach 57.6 million by 2019, with a maintained GDP growth percentage of 3-4 percent annually translating to higher personal income levels and standards of living (Alpen Capital). With the region’s primary agriculture sector restricted because of harsh climatic conditions, limited arable land and water scarcity that all affect farming, the opportunities for local and international food companies to invest in new technologies, production lines and innovative ingredients are vast.

“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 MEASA. 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,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President, Events & Exhibitions Department, DWTC.

“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.”

Gulfood Manufacturing will welcome a broad spectrum of industry heavyweights including Cargill Europe BVBA, CSM Deutschland GmbH and Döhler Middle East, IFFCO, Ishida Europe Ltd., Markel Bakery Group, Mecatherm, Rieckerman, Multivac, Tetra Pak, Wild and TNA Packing Solutions.

The industry heavyweights are primed to utilise Gulfood Manufacturing’s unique proposition as a one-stop-shop to source the latest ingredients, processing machinery, packaging equipment and logistics, warehousing and cold chain solutions to enable faster, cheaper and cost-effective production of safer and more reliable products - key enablers in saving costs and increasing revenues in the increasingly competitive global food trade industry.

At the heart of the Gulfood Manufacturing business proposition is Dubai’s strategic position as a recognised manufacturing and logistics gateway between East and West and the primary re-export hub to emerging countries and economies across MEASA. Despite its vast trading potential, the GCC remains largely dependent on food imports – more than 75 per cent according to Alpen Capital’s 2015 GCC Food Industry Report. Securing a steady supply of food remains a key challenge for GCC governments.

With GCC food imports forecast to reach US $ 53.1 billion by 2020 according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Gulfood Manufacturing will reverse the ‘finished foods’ focus of February’s annual Gulfood showcase and, instead, highlight the region’s ripe business potential as a leading international manufacturing and processing hub to serve domestic and international demand.

To continue serving neighbouring markets, efficient and well-developed infrastructure and logistics systems remain integral to the regional food manufacturing sector. Food Logistics Middle East, one of three specialist sectors at Gulfood Manufacturing, has attracted international companies that wilkl showcase new innovations in supply chain I.T. and technology, transportation, handling, equipment and services.

A critical element in the food supply value chain is packaging – from manufacturing through to transportation, storage, retailing and end-user consumption of processed and packaged foods – and the sector enjoys a dedicated platform at Gulfood Manufacturing the banner of ProPack Middle East.  International packaging pioneers will showcase the latest innovations and efficiency drivers essential for today’s food manufacturers.

With many food industry innovations generated from core ingredients and raw materials that result in longer lasting and tastier food products, Ingredients Middle East - the third sector-specific focus at Gulfood Manufacturing - has attracted a full house of the industry’s key players that will showcase new products, technologies and ingredient innovations.

Gulfood Manufacturing is open between 10am-6pm from 27 – 28 October and 10am-5pm on 29 October 2015 at DWTC. Visitor attendance is free of charge. For more information, please visit www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com