Largest ever Gulfood exhibition opens today

Gulfood 2013, the world’s largest annual trade show for the food and hospitality industry, opens today (Monday) with more than 4200 exhibitors readying themselves for one of the year’s busiest weeks of business trading, product launches and networking for the global food industry.

Running until February 28 2013 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), this year’s edition is the biggest in the event’s history, taking up more than 113,000m² of dedicated exhibition space including the new 12,000m² purpose-built Zabeel Pavilion which has been specially constructed for Gulfood.

The show has been sold out since October, demonstrating its importance for food producing nations around the world looking to do business in the fast-growing Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

“Gulfood’s importance on a truly global scale cannot be disputed: not only has the show enjoyed substantial growth year on year without exception, and attracted participation from countries around the world, but the show now commands a place on the calendars of heads of state, government ministers and official delegations looking to strengthen relations at the highest level,” said Trixee Loh, senior vice president, DWTC, organiser of Gulfood.

Alongside the exhibition will run the Global Food Leaders’ Summit, a conference for senior executives from some of the world’s leading food and drink companies.

The Gulfood Awards will take place tonight at the Ritz Carlton DIFC with a record number of entries received this year across the 23 categories, which will be judged by an international panel of industry experts.
Gulfood favourite, Salon Culinaire, held in association with the Emirates Culinary Guild, will this year host 1500 chefs in heated competition before a panel of 25 distinguished international judges.

Gulfood is open 11am-7pm from February 25-27 and 11am -5pm on February 28.