SIAL MidEast invites entries for innovation award

Hannah-Farah Abdulla, July 15th, 2012

SIAL Middle East, the regional edition of the largest food exhibition network in the world, has opened nominations for the SIAL Innovation Award set to take place from November 26 to 28 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The SIAL Innovation Award is a global food accolade presented at each SIAL Group event. This year marks the award’s second iteration in the Middle East, with entries judged by experts from independent food innovation consultancy, XTC.

“This award is highly anticipated in the industry and has become the showcase of food innovations from around the world. For the companies participating, this award has often been the springboard to success and to the supermarket shelves,” said Xavier Terlet, CEO of XTC World Innovation.

Expectations in the field of innovation are to include organic foodstuffs with a recent upswing of these products due to an improved awareness on the role of nutritional choices in the prevalence of diabetes and other health threats identified with the region.

Foodstuffs using camel milk and dates are also expected to be of interest as they drew overwhelming attention from SIAL editions in Abu Dhabi, Paris and Shanghai. The UAE’s dates were judged the best-selling product at the recent SIAL China event earlier this year.

“Innovation is key to addressing the numerous challenges faced by the Middle East’s food industry and growing concerns over the ability of the region to meet its burgeoning food demands, said Chris Fountain, MD, Turret Media.

“The quest for healthier living is another driving force for fresher approaches to the region’s food initiatives. SIAL Middle East is an important platform for identifying and exploring the latest solutions, and its SIAL Innovation Award promises to reveal new and exciting directions for the Middle East’s long-term food agenda.”

Ten concepts will be chosen and displayed within SIAL Middle East’s Innovation Observatory, with an overall winner to be announced during an official awards ceremony on November 26, 2012.