“People see for themselves what they want to buy and at the same time we can provide them with all the assistance they need,” he explains.

Zaidi has been attending Gulfood since 2004 and is an example of how companies from across the region have grown with the exhibition.

“I started my first Gulfood with a 24 metre stall,” he explains. “Now I take more than 90 metres of space for my stand.”

Bigger and better

Gulfood took place over two convention centres this year, as speciality show Ingredients Middle East was incorporated into Gulfood.

Dubai Airport Expo provided an extra location, adding a large volume of participants, both exhibitors and visitors, to the show’s figures.

Gulfood’s Vossough says: “It was the first time we have actually used that venue and as a result the show grew by 20%.

Story continues below
Advertisement


“It was an extension of the Gulfood show on the food and drinks side and we also co-located Ingredients Middle East alongside as it is a better time of year to hold it.

“All of the companies exhibiting at the Airport Expo Dubai have been on our waiting lists for three or four years now,” explains Vossough.

DWTC’s Zeljkovic adds: “Basically we could not avoid doing something about the constant influx of enquiries we get.”

Vossough hit back at rumblings of discontent from some of the show’s exhibitors, claiming their poorly planned marketing campaigns and Gulfood preparations were probably the reason behind their grievances.
 
“At exhibitions you always get companies complaining that they didn’t do good business, but some of these companies did not do a proper market campaign,” Vossough says.

“They expect to come to the exhibition without doing anything and walking home with lots of business, but as we are all aware that simply does not happen.”

The comments came following claims from some exhibitors at Airport Expo Dubai that they were unaware they would be situated at the extended facility until two weeks prior to the event.

“It’s not true,” states Vossough. “Whatever company wants to book an exhibition slot, they pre-plan before and we communicated with these exhibitors from day one, whether it was about pricing or marketing.

“I think the visitors that went there meant serious business and they were there to speak to somebody.

“Perhaps they didn’t have the foothold they have at the main convention centre — but it was still a good exhibition.”