Gulfood records record numbers and transactions

Gulfood 2011, the world’s largest annual trade show for the food and beverage industry ended on a record high this year with an unprecedented number of visitors, exhibitors and business transactions recorded during the four day event.

Visits to Gulfood this year by both the Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero and Deputy President of Republic of the Philippines, Jejomar Binay highlighted the global reach and stature of Gulfood.

“Gulfood not only generates growth for the food and business industry on a truly global scale, the event also contributes measurably to the economy of Dubai by attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the city,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the exhibition. “The continued support from countries within our region as well as those around the world has enabled Gulfood to grow into the most influential industry show and to play the role it does for the region.”

The show, which ran from February 27 to March 2, is the biggest exhibition to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and attracted 62,024 trade visitors – an increase of 12% over last year – from more than 150 countries. In excess of 1 million square feet of exhibition space was allocated to 3,800 exhibitors bringing products, services and innovations the Middle East from 100 countries around the world.