As consumers become more knowledgeable through travel, media coverage and restaurant experience, the fast paced food, beverage and hospitality industries are under increasing pressure to meet the evolving tastes of their customers.
This global demand is highlighted by the record number of ingredient specialists exhibiting at this year’s Gulfood exhibition, the region’s largest trade exhibition for food, drink, foodservice and hospitality equipment which takes place 27 February – 2 March 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Showcasing the industry’s top products, innovations and inventions from over 3,800 exhibitors spanning more than 120 countries, Gulfood highlights some of the top trends for 2011.
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1. Flavours in Favour
Last year’s trend for hot and spicy flavourings continues to grow as consumers crave more flavour, whether in their kitchens, in restaurants or on supermarket shelves. According to McCormick’s flavour forecast for 2011, combinations as adventurous as caramelised honey and red adzuki beans, fennel and peri-peri sauce, and green peppercorns and goats milk, are “taking tastebuds to exhilarating new places”. Many leading international companies will feature at Gulfood and Ingredients Middle East, including Cargill, Doehler, Fanar, Solyman Services, Symrise, Transveritas and Wild, who will all showcase the latest flavourings from around the world.
2. Packing a Punch
Cost and conservation are key processing and packaging trends this year, with sustainability one of the major driving forces. It is not just a case of ‘green is great’, but it can also be the most cost effective packaging, from manufacture and materials to tins and transport. Frimex/Hayel Saeed, Integrated Packaging Systems, Tetra Pak and Union Packaging will all be showing their latest innovations.
3. Naturally good
With a growing shift towards natural products, food and beverage manufacturers are focusing on the inherent goodness of ingredients. Simple, but powerful messaging is coming to the fore. Naturex, for example, continues to strengthen its position as a leader in all-natural flavourings, colourings, scents and preservatives at Gulfood and Nestle Professional is set to launch a new drink category for the Middle East at Gulfood 2011 with Sjora, a fruit and dairy blend drink that promises to be all natural, 99.9 percent fat free and a healthier alternative to carbonated soft drinks.
4. Clean and Clear
There is a strong rise in popularity for simplicity. Clean label, e-free foods without additives, colourings and preservatives, are making a strong surge, using ingredients with natural derivatives, such as the sugar substitute, stevia, agave and maple syrup instead.
5. Proven is the password
With functional health interest showing no sign of slowing down, health claims and wellness benefits in food products are gaining new ground. This signals big opportunity for those companies that have included science in their manufacture, and can add “clinically proven” or “20 years of scientific research” to their product promise. Also growing is the overlap between pharma and food, a trend that is highlighted by Gulfood exhibitors such as Piramal Healthcare and Unilever.
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