Top 10 reasons to visit Gulfood 2012
The Middle East’s largest F&B fair, Gulfood, offers plenty to tempt the taste buds of the region’s hoteliers. From exclusive research to innovative products, Hotelier Middle East sums up the top 10 reasons to visit the show taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from February 19-22.
Article continues on next page ...
1 One million ft² show
With 25 years under its belt, Gulfood is bigger and better than ever. More than 65,000 buyers and 3800 exhibitors can’t be argued with — this is a chance to see, and be seen by, all of the major players in the industry across one million ft² of exhibition space at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Dates were penned into diaries before Gulfood 2011 had even finished and the anticipation for this year’s event is huge. Gulfood is going to be home, for four days, to a record 107 international pavilions, including the UK, Germany and Italy, and with 57% of visitors coming from abroad; it is a hub for the international F&B industry.
Attending means that reaching out to new markets in a quest for great products at a good price becomes more manageable — you can even fit in a visit to far-off lands between service!
Article continues on next page ...
2 Gulfood Conference
Experts converge in Dubai to share their years of knowledge and experience. People such as Yousif Abdulghani, MD of McDonalds ME Development Company, and Sanjeev Chadha, MEA president of PepsiCo, will lead conferences where they will explain the secrets of brand localisation (Feb 20, 2.45pm, and Feb 19, 2.30pm, respectively). Euromonitor will focus on developing brand strategies to find a foothold in different regions around the world (Feb 20, 3.15pm).
Article continues on next page ...
3 The Gulfood Awards
With more than 20 categories spanning health education initiatives to catering equipment innovations, the Gulfood Awards promote revolutionary designs and ideas that will be sweeping the F&B industry.
Only in their third year, the awards are known for introducing new products and showcasing creative businesses such as 2011’s Best New Catering Innovation Flexsil-Lid. The awards gala dinner will be held on Feb 19 at 7.30pm in DWTC’s Al Multaqa Ballroom.
Article continues on next page ...
4 The Foodpreneur Forum
One of the big draws to this year’s Gulfood will undoubtedly be the Foodpreneur Forum on Feb 20. It is going to be a must-attend summit for those looking to break into markets that are not traditionally targeted, but which hold major incentives, such as little competition from other brands.
To learn how to best break into the critical Saudi Arabia market, there will be a discussion on the subject at 11.45am, while the peculiarities of trading in the Iraqi F&B market, as well as its franchising and licensing opportunities, will be focussed on at 2.15pm.
Article continues on next page ...
5 Essential networking
The F&B world’s biggest movers and shakers will be flying into Dubai and making their way through the exhibition floor. It’s a unique opportunity to meet the people who can push your business onto the next level.
Malaysian pavilion sales alone exceeded US $16.2 million during the 2011 show with an additional $28.5 million in business conducted following the event, while more than $34 million worth of orders were confirmed at Gulfood 2011 for the US agricultural industry.
Article continues on next page ...
6 One-off tastings and Demonstrations
PR material can so often be stuffed full of superlatives and hype but, at the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. The exhibition floor is teeming with products that you can see being used and taste for yourself.
It is a once-a-year chance to have dozens of products pitched, tried and tested to find the exact item you’re looking for. From conveyor belts and processing equipment to chocolates and spices, you will be thrilled and excited by the dazzling array of products you can incorporate into your current business.
At the stands this year you can taste Vera Magna olive oils and jams, Lamb Weston’s new CrissCuts Snackstyle nibbles and Filicori Zecchini’s coffee blends, especially designed for the event.
Article continues on next page ...
7 Salon Culinaire
Leading international chefs from both the region and further afield will be heading to Gulfood’s Salon Culinaire competition in Zabeel Hall for their chance to be spotted as the superstars of the kitchen. Cooks from as far away as Canada and Slovakia will be there to show off their excellence in classes such as Pastry Showpiece and Tapas, Finger Food and Canapé.
On the lookout for the next kitchen star? Need that certain someone to push your food outlets into the consciousness of a whole new market? This year sees the introduction of a Young Chef of the Year trophy which is guaranteed to draw in the names that will be making headlines in the next few years.
All aged between 21 and 25, the culinary flair will be high and this is your chance to bag the person you’re looking for.
Article continues on next page ...
8 Ingredients Middle East
Running concurrently with Gulfood, in Sheikh Saeed Hall, is Ingredients Middle East, which will be looking at the growing food manufacturing and processing sector. In attendance will be big companies from across the globe who cultivate, extract, process or supply ingredients for food manufacture presenting their latest solutions to the sector’s issues.
Article continues on next page ...
9 Restaurant & Cafe Middle East
Whether you’re setting up a new restaurant or café operation, or already running a successful one and looking for something to heighten its position against competitors, Restaurant & Café Middle East, in Hall 1, will have just the thing you’re looking for. There will be a comprehensive selection of interior design, tableware, contract furnishing and kitchen equipment, as well as point-of-sale equipment and new innovations
in business technology.
Article continues on next page ...
10 Dubai International Food Safety Conference
An imperative education event for those involved in the development, implementation and maintenance of food safety programmes. Last year there were 100 presenters from around the world attracting 1250 delegates. Conferences on February 21 and 22 are split between Al Multaqa Hall and Abu Dhabi Rooms A and B, with workshops taking place on February 23.