He added: “We have slowly started in some niche markets with premium beef meat, but we want to have a broader spectrum so people can have French beef in the hypermarket and the hotels and restaurants.”

Moving towards the United Kingdom, four companies from Scotland exhibited at Gulfood for the first time.
Scottish Development International (SDI), which helps to promote Scottish products around the world, brought along a number of new exhibitors to Gulfood this year.

Among the new companies at the event were dairy company First Milk, which was showcasing its signature range of cheddar cheese for the first time in the Middle East, and Ronan Foods, which was exhibiting its ice cream style desserts, among other products.

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Also at the show for the first time was sweet biscuits and savoury snacks producer Pulsetta and global packaging manufacturer Vegware LTD, the latter of which won a Gulfood Award for Best New Catering Equipment Innovation Award (see box out on pg 53).

Meanwhile, new products launched within the Scotland pavilion included Reids of Caithness’ Caithness Scenic Range, pre-packaged mini packs of shortbread cookies, and Maclean’s Highland Bakery’s Luxury and Mini ranges of its sweet confectionery and oatcakes.

Shortbread House of Edinburgh also introduced its new retail and foodservice packaging, designed to appeal to a younger market for its hand-made Scottish shortbread products, oat biscuits and Dundee cakes.

Tom Marchbanks, regional manager Middle East, Scottish Development International, said: “Scotland is blessed with a fantastic larder of some of the best natural produce in the world, and our food and drink industry is thriving.

In addition to having a reputation for producing indulgent and premium foods, Scottish producers are really stepping up to the mark to meet consumer demand for luxury and healthy products. And the variety of new products being launched at the show is testament to that.

“That Gulfood has been chosen as the platform from which to launch these new product innovations reflects the importance of the Middle East market to these companies.

“We know they are keen to impress the chefs, buyers and other decision-makers in this region and keep up with the increasing demand for luxury, healthy, innovative products backed by Scottish heritage.”

Staying in the UK, the GCC is on the radar for Welsh product exports in 2015, with companies who participated in the Welsh pavilion having affirmed plans to penetrate the Middle Eastern market this year. They have clear strategies in place, including culture-sensitive products, local partners and aggressive marketing plans, to capture a considerable market share.

Dairy products from the region have already made it to the high-end retail chains, including Spinney’s, and companies plan to collaborate with local partners to further infiltrate the market, and reach out to the highly-competitive hospitality and aviation industry.

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