Caterer Conference 2017: Meet the sponsors

A&T Group Interiors
Caterer Middle East speaks to A&T Group Interiors CEO, Tareq Khalafawi

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
This is a great opportunity to network and build relationships with potential customers and industry leaders.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Beverages Professionals in 2017?
The UAE continues to evolve as a tourism destination, attracting more visitors from across the world. The UAE as a whole – and Dubai in particular – has developed a reputation as a ‘go to’ market for owners, operators, chefs and brands. Competition remains very high, which requires everyone to be at the top of their game.

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
Despite short-term challenges, over the last 12 months, consumer demand for F&B offerings remains robust – people in the UAE, residents and tourists, like to eat out. Recent Euromonitor data suggests that growth in revenue between now and 2020 is likely to outstrip of outlets by around 30% - this is a great reason to remain cheerful.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
Latest trends, innovations and analysis needed to succeed in today’s ever growing F&B market.

What are the latest product launches from your company?
A&T Group Interiors has completed the 118,400 square foot turnkey fit out works for the Motiongate theme park–the largest entertainment facility of the Dubai Parks and Resorts which is also a home to a designated zone for Dreamworks productions.
During the construction of this project A&T assisted in achieving numerous safety and environmental mile stones which had been recognized throughout the city of Dubai, one of which is the completion of 6 Million man working hours without a loss of time incident.
It was a pleasure to work on such an iconic project - at A&T Group Interiors we pride ourselves on our commitment to deliver a first-class projects within a short period of time and best expertise to meet our clients’ requirements. We are confident that Motiongate will be a major value-addition to our diversified portfolio.”

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
Geographical expansion outside the UAE.

Continued on page 2

Al Rawdah (Emirates Modern Poultry)
Caterer Middle East speaks to Al Rawdah (Emirates Modern Poultry) head of food service, Paul Farhat

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
In partnership with Caterer Middle East Magazine, we find this sponsorship a no brainer decision as it ticks all our boxes. This is a great means for us as a relatively new player in the Food Service sector to broaden our competitive edge by making Al Rawdah Food Service image resonate with our target market. It is also important for us to improve our credibility by supporting events that our target market finds attractive while leveraging the already strong brand awareness Al Rawdah is enjoying in the retail sector.
Moreover, since supporting similar events is nowadays considered one of the most effective tools of marketing that transcends cultural & language barriers, hence our focus to make this a success and further emphasize the importance of local fresh produce as an inevitable alternative as far as chefs are concerned.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE F&B professionals in 2017?
The UAE food & beverage market is growing in size as well as sophistication. This being said, F&B professionals are being faced with increasing challenges while striving to keep their cost under control at no compromise to quality. Tapping into new markets, staying ahead of the growing competition, as well as looking into newly emerging trends are all factors that are becoming part of an F&B professional’s daily routine.
While most published reports are usually focused on figures, I see the challenge in 2017 to be more intangible & strategic that requires every professional to make it their mission to stand out and differentiate themselves in a way, especially as we head towards the highly anticipated 2020; until then I believe it’s going to be a survival of the fittest environment where creativity & proper market awareness will play a big role.
We have actually started to feel the influx as local producers in response to the above strategic thinking as most chefs are choosing a more sustainable & reliable sourcing of their quality products.

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
As one of the biggest poultry producers in the UAE, we are extremely excited about Al Rawdah Food Service potential in 2017 and very thrilled with the growth rate the market is anticipated to achieve as this will reflect growth in top line figures. Apart from the realistic nature of business, we are most excited to see the industry being steered to higher standards, the bar is being raised by operators & government alike, the thing that reflects better controls & make us and all those who share our vision have a sense of belonging and further push forward to refine the finished products we all enjoy having whether at a hotel, restaurant or food truck.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the conference?
In order for this conference to be effective, I believe some pressing issues are expected to come up and further actions required in order to send a message to all concerned. Such topics can be the Halal market regulations and the recently introduced certification requirements, inspections not only at F&B outlets but also at supplier premises & production facilities, Local sourcing & the right to inspect, organic ingredients and how to change this exclusivity that shrouds the use of Organic, as well as tackle the actual never ending debate on authenticity of dining concepts and what it takes to have a restaurant being labelled as authentic and true to its origins, hence leading to the economic aspect of how feasible it is to operate such concepts in the UAE.

What news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
•Al Rawdah is the first poultry producer awarded the official UAE HALAL seal by ESMA; moreover, we have been awarded the Emirates Quality Mark seal after a rigorous audit process.
•The expansion of our processing facility brings us to commission and finalize the installation of new machinery that will get us launching a few new products during the upcoming Gulf Food show.
•Our new farm being built at Liwa is set to double our production capacity; the project is on schedule and will start operations by mid-2017.
•The process of implanting a new sophisticated ERP system that will go live by the last quarter of 2017 will establish additional controls and will raise our service level index as well as customer satisfaction.

Continued on page 3

BASF Construction Chemicals
Caterer Middle East speaks to BASF UAE construction systems segments sales manager, Shane Arbuckle.

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
To enable us to reach key decision makers and influencers involved in ensuring the correct hygienic, safe and durable flooring is used in food preparation and kitchen areas.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Beverages Professionals in 2017?
In food preparation and kitchens: safety, ease of cleaning, hygiene, appearance and durability

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
Constantly growing to meet increasingly sophisticated population.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
We’d like to hear about the importance of the hygiene and quality of the F&B professionals working environment.

What are the latest product launches from your company?
Our market leading F&B Ucrete range has recently launched two easier to apply floor coatings called Ucrete HF 60RT and Ucrete HF 100RT in the GCC. The Ucrete technology and performance remains best in class and it’s now easier to apply.

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
Ongoing development of specific systems for specialised flooring and wall coatings for kitchens and food preparation areas. Long term partnering with standardised specifications, with multi-site blue chip clients.

Continued on page 4

HORECA Trade
Caterer Middle East speaks to HORECA Trade marketing manager Jad Asaad

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
We believe that supporting the Caterer Food & Business Conference as a foodservice partner is a perfect way to develop our relationship and strengthen the bond within the F&B industry. Through this exclusive sponsorship HORECA wishes to showcase our growing brands and benefits to potential and existing customers while enhancing our public profile.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Beverages Professionals in 2017?
One of the main challenges facing UAE Food & Business Professionals is Food Waste. Over 38% of food prepared every day is wasted from all market channels. With the continuous rise of new hotels and restaurants opening up in the UAE, the demand has not increased meaning food professionals are facing higher food waste. This has recently encouraged Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid to set up the UAE Food Bank.

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
The UAE hotel industry is continuously growing with new innovations and dining experiences. Year on year we are also seeing major growth of the society’s love, passion and knowledge of food. This year we look forward to the openings of more distinctive hotels using new techniques and technology.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
I expect ‘current challenges the market faces’ in the F&B sector to come up. Seeing how different channels tackle this would be interesting as it something that affects the whole industry.

What are the latest product launches from your company?
The latest addition to our portfolio is Farillia. This is a leading and pioneering brand in the juice industry specializing on 100% Freshly Squeezed and Snap-Frozen Juices as well as Homemade Traditional Recipes. They carry no additives and no concentrates. We are currently carrying several SKU’s such as Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate and Sour Cherry juice.

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
As always, HORECA Trade has set high expectations for 2017! Striving towards excellent customer service is one of our main focuses as well as widening our portfolio further and increasing our presence in the market.

Continued on page 5

Global Export Marketing Co. & American Garden

Caterer Middle East speaks to Global Export Marketing Co. & American Garden food services manager, Manika Saxena.

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
The F&B Conference gives us a unique platform for recognition and the opportunity to grow in the market. The conference gives us the chance to communicate with chefs, understand our competitors, and identify potential clients or distributors. It’s a key platform for us to learn about the up and coming trends and the challenges faced by the industry.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Beverages Professionals in 2017?
One of the main challenges F&B professionals face is a crowded market. There are a lot of products and services available it can be quite challenging to identify the right offering. As American Garden, we are committed to working with the needs of individuals within the industry without compromising on our quality and taste all while still being affordable.

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
The F&B industry in the UAE is incredibly dynamic, from hotel openings, to new restaurant launches show casing the most recent food trend. It’s the fast pace and rapid growth of the industry that keeps us enthused to work in the Horeca Industry.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
New launches, the market in 2017 and expectations of clients

What are the latest product launches from your company?
We will communicate to the industry as and when the launch will happen.

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
We participate in conferences and events with F&B professionals to really understand the needs of our consumer and the evolvement of the industry trends. We take the time to analyse the market trends and ensure our clients trust the brand and the products we are offering. We will continue to educate our clients on our offering and ensure highly positive customer satisfaction ratings, and become a preferred brand in the industry.

Continued on page 6

Pulsar Foodstuff
Caterer Middle East speaks to Pulsar Foodstuff general manager, Stephen Bennett.

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
It is very important for Pulsar Foodstuff to continue to support events such as the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business as it allows us to stay in direct contact with our target clients, many of whom attend such events. It is also important during difficult and testing times not to get dragged down with the negativity which can cause many companies to go backwards. We utilise such events to push forward.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Business professionals in 2017?
At present we are seeing a lot of new establishments under development and many more recently completed. From hotel rooms to bars and restaurants there is now a huge amount of choice on offer. However, visitors to the area have not increased at the same rate. Lowering oil prices and a drop in the euro and sterling has seen a reduction in visitors to the region. The result is that the amount of potential customers is being spread very thin for every outlet throughout the country. The difficulties from this are obvious and present a challenge to each and every outlet.

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
One thing that is very exciting is the amount of choice now available throughout the region. The country is now able to tap into the culture of almost every other country and culture worldwide. From Brazilian, Arabic to Japanese restaurants, Irish, African or Filipino bars, there is something entirely new and different to try every night.

What are the latest product launches from your company?
We have recently invested in a new range of low cost packaging to meet the needs of a changing market which is seeing more and more mid-range hotels enter the Emirates. As the leading supplier of in-room snacks to the hotel industry we want to ensure that all hotels have the opportunity to increase their brand value and enhance the customer experience.

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017?
During the year Pulsar Foodstuff will be increasing its amenities range to compliment those which we are currently supplying to the hotel industry. Check out our website for more information - www.pulsarfoodstuff.com

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A. Ronai LLC

Caterer Middle East speaks to A. Ronai LLC managing director, Gavin Dodd.

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
As a loyal ambassador to Caterer ME events Ronai are extremely happy to support the conference this year. We very much believe in supporting the great industry that we are a part of and events as professional as this are a great way of achieving our aim. With the expected increase in properties as well as the number of visitors to Dubai in the coming years it’s important for all related companies to stay ahead of the game, building and retaining crucial relationships with hospitality industry professionals

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Beverages Professionals in 2017?
With such a huge variety of hotels, restaurants, bars and late night venues across the UAE increased competition is sure to be a challenge for the owners / operators. Ensuring that you have the right combination in terms of atmosphere, location, F&B offering and well trained staff will be a test for all those involved but one where they are currently succeeding

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
There has always been an abundant variety of restaurants and cafes across the UAE but more unique cuisines are now finding their way onto the culinary scene, dedicated Emirati inspired restaurants also provide us a delicious taste of the local cuisine.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
In line with the challenges faced by the F&B industry I would suggest a discussion on sustainability and how restaurants can incorporate heathier, more organically grown produce into an increasingly competitively priced market. Budget is always a challenge across any industry, hospitality in Dubai is no different

What are the latest product launches from your company?
As we are conscious of market trends, our Uniforms by Ronai catalogue continues to develop with updates and improvements on our designs and fabrics providing the best collection for the hospitality industry. We have also launched a new lighting collection, Insight Cordless Lighting’s assortment of LED lights provide the perfect ambience for any environment

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
With the continued development across the UAE and beyond we anticipate growth in the Hospitality market as we close in on the Expo 2020. With new theme parks and attractions encouraging more and more visitors to the region it is our intention to expand our range to accommodate these requirements as well as looking towards new projects across the Middle East

Continued on page 8

SIAL Middle East
Caterer Middle East speaks to SIAL Middle East managing director Joanne Cook.

Why is it important that you support the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
SIAL Middle East has been a long standing partner of ITP and certainly sees the value in its magazine titles and events. As the region’s fastest growing event for the food, beverage and hospitality industry, SIAL Middle East will benefit from aligning with Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference as this will lead to excellent brand exposure. We certainly hope that as part of this association, attendees to the conference recognise the importance of business friendly exhibition like SIAL Middle East and make it a point to attend it in 2017.

What do you think are the main challenges facing UAE Food & Beverages Professionals in 2017?
The F&B industry in the UAE is growing at an excellent pace, which is great but at the same it is important that this pace is kept up. With the potential economic challenges, the F&B industry needs to stay on top of the market changes and stay successful.

What most excites you about the UAE F&B industry in 2017?
The market potential is the bit that is most exciting. As an event defining innovation in the food, beverage and hospitality sector, SIAL Middle East is looking forward to industry growing further in innovation domain.

What are the main topics you expect to come up at the Caterer Middle East: Food & Business Conference?
It will be interesting to hear about the changing dynamics of the industry considering the economic slowdown. What are the businesses doing to keep them going but growing as well.

What are the latest product launches from your company?
SIAL Middle East is an annual event that runs in November/December. The 2016 event was an exceptional success story and this year’s event will build on this to deliver an even bigger and better event for audience from the food, beverage and hospitality industry.

What other news can we expect from your company in 2017/2018?
Stay tuned to www.sialme.com for all the new and exciting events & features at SIAL Middle East.