Interview: Gulfood exhibition director Mark Napier

Gulfood’s exhibition director Mark Napier tells Hotelier what exhibitors and visitors can expect at the 19th instalment of the food and beverage industry’s biggest annual trade event

What’s new for Gulfood 2014?
Not only is Gulfood the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade show, it is also one of the most dynamic in terms of new features, activities and developments introduced every year.

With more than 4500 exhibitors confirmed for 2014, and 120 national pavilions set to showcase their respective country’s products and services, Gulfood 2014 is set for another record year. This year’s Gulfood will feature a host of innovative new features that will address the latest trends, global issues and opportunities impacting various sectors of the industry.

New additions this year include the World Food Security Summit where high ranking officials and key decision makers in the food and agriculture sectors will discuss food security challenges and solutions. We are also introducing the Barista Bonanza and Coffee Council, the Tea House, the Innovation Gallery, and an Export Advice Clinic.

Article continues on next page ...

What trends are we going to see at the show this year?
As the most influential annual trade show for the food and beverage industry, accommodating more than 4500 exhibitors and welcoming more than 80,000 trade visitors, Gulfood is the perfect platform for industry leaders to showcase the latest innovations, discuss the latest trends and address and find solutions for key challenges in the industry.

This year in particular, the focus will be on addressing challenges related to food security — a sensitive topic, especially for the Arab countries where we can see an unprecedented increase in population-driven consumption correlated with a heavy reliance on imports.

The awareness of healthy living is gaining traction around the world, generating increased demand for wellness foods. This trend is driving strong growth for functional foods, natural products and organic foods.

Rising affluence levels in the GCC region has led to increased demand for protein-rich foods, particularly meat. With fast-growing Muslim populations around the world, the demand for Halal food is growing at an exceptional rate.

As a result, the need for standards and certification is more important than ever. Whether related to food security, healthy nutrition or Halal standards, the focus will be on innovation across the board, on finding solutions and new ways of addressing challenges and responding to consumer demand in an effective, coherent and responsible way.

How can exhibitors maximise their Gulfood experience?
A visit to the website is a must before the start of the show — the website is updated daily with the most relevant and helpful information, and includes a dedicated section for exhibitor news.

Also, the Gulfood mobile app, available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices, enables users to navigate the show, and includes an interactive map that finds interesting products and guides visitors to them using the latest way-finding technology.

Users can also learn about the various conferences and competitions taking place at the show, receive news alerts from organisers and set meeting reminders. ‘Gulfood Connexions’, an online networking and diary management tool for both exhibitors and visitors, will help members look for potential business leads and book meetings ahead of the event.

Article continues on next page ...

What are the challenges faced by the organising team when putting together such a massive trade show?
The biggest challenge when organising an event of this scale is accommodating the demand for space. The waiting list from exhibitors wanting to participate continues to grow and even with the increased space we have this year — thanks to the launch of Gulf Manufacturing in November — we still have more exhibitors than square metres available.

We are continuously trying to improve both the exhibitors’ and visitors’ experience — so always looking for ways to solve these issues. This year, with the launch of Gulfood Manufacturing, we have been able to welcome 10 new country pavilions to the show.

What was the reasoning behind Gulfood Manufacturing, which will be launched this year?
Historically, the UAE and the GCC have been food importers — the traditional focus has been on bringing overseas produce to the region. Times, however, are changing and we’re starting to see a transition the other way.

There is an increasing trend among regional and international manufacturers to base themselves in stable environments where trade and infrastructure capacity allow them to best serve their geographical targets. In short, relocation to Dubai and the UAE is at the top of major international manufacturers’ global business strategies.

With more manufacturers setting up in the UAE and the wider GCC, we’re seeing tremendous growth in the purchase of ingredients, processing and packaging equipment, warehousing, logistics and cold chain technologies as Dubai and other regional players move further up the supply chain. This is the proposition driving Gulfood Manufacturing, which will span nine halls and is on course to be the region’s biggest-ever trade event launch.