Gulfood Awards Preview

Returning for its sixth edition, this year’s Gulfood Awards will take place at the Gulfood 20th anniversary party — we tell you what you can expect from the night

The sixth Gulfood Awards is set to take place at the Gulfood 20th Anniversary party, and show director Mark Napier says: “This year’s Gulfood Awards take place on February 10 at the five-star Conrad Hotel in Dubai. To mark the 20th anniversary of Gulfood in 2015, this year’s Awards will play host to a memorable celebration of the show’s achievements over the past 19 editions. More than 1000 leading industry decision-makers, celebrity chefs, key exhibitors, customers, media and national groups are expected to attend what promises to be a memorable anniversary event.”

Gulfood exhibitors were eligible to enter the award categories (see box out), with no limit on the number of categories or nominations submitted. Entries were open to products, services and initiatives launched in the Middle East since March 1, 2014, and were judged by an international panel of independent industry experts.

This year, some of the judges included Emirates Culinary Guild president Uwe Micheel, European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers (EFCEM) technical committee chairman Keith Warren, AMEFT ASIA & Middle East Food Trade Journal publisher and editorial director Gabriele D. Ingwersen, and ITP Business Hospitality Group senior editor Devina Divecha.

Introduced in 2010, Napier says that with more than 3500 companies and 45,000 visitors at the 2010 show, “we felt it was time the people, brands and companies driving innovation and quality in the regional industry were recognised at a dedicated Middle East event”.

The Awards have grown since its inception. Napier reveals: “Right from the first year, the Gulfood Awards attracted significant local, regional and international interest — the inaugural event attracted more than 150 entries from 26 countries. With interest and entries growing every year, the calibre of Gulfood Awards contenders and winners has highlighted the champion products, talent and innovation flourishing in our regional F&B industry.”

Napier is pleased with the industry response to the awards, which has “exceeded all our expectations”. He adds: “As a tailored platform for international companies to showcase premium products and innovations to a regional audience, the Gulfood Awards continue to play a pivotal role in the growth and prosperity of the regional F&B landscape.”

Award categories:

The Gulfood Awards categories span a number of interests:
Brands and Products
- Best new beverage product award
- Best new food product award
- Best new Halal product award
- Best newcomer brand or business award

Foodservice
- Best new foodservice innovation

Marketing
- Best consumer marketing campaign

Catering Equipment
- Best new catering equipment innovation award

Gulfood Exhibition Stands
- Gulfood best trade stand under 100 sqm
- Gulfood best trade stand over 100 sqm

Gulfood Outstanding Achievement Award

Basic information:

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Time: 7:30pm onwards
Location: Puro Beach at the Conrad Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Price: AED 700 (US$ 190) per person
What is included: Welcome drinks reception, customised signature menu including live cooking stations and canapés, themed entertainment
Contact: gulfoodawards@dwtc.com / +9714 3086630