Gulfood Food Manufacturing 2019, the sixth edition of Dubai’s F&B manufacturing and processing forum opens Tuesday, 29 October with the region’s food and beverage industry on the cusp of rapid growth and in the midst of widespread transformation.
As the UAE and other GCC economies seek to diversify further into non-oil sectors, manufacturing is playing a greater role, with food and beverage leading the charge. According to data from Dubai Exports, the UAE alone is home to approximately 575 active manufacturing units, with a total investment of USD 10.7 billion, a number that is forecast to continue its sharp increase over the next five years. Furthermore, the UAE, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia, has invested USD 1.3 billion toward several food security initiatives that open several market opportunities for the packaging industry across the GCC, according to the Mordor Intelligence UAE Packaging Market – Growth, Trends and Forecast (2019-2024) report.
Such growing concerns for food safety and food waste, and the need to get produce to consumers faster with greater affordability, are driving innovation and transforming the industry. When it opens its doors to more than 1,600 local, regional and international exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals, Gulfood Manufacturing 2019 will address these and other industry issues with the latest processing technology on show. The 2019 edition has also upgraded opportunities available to both exhibitors and visitors with a full spectrum of initiatives, from tailored Gulfood Manufacturing Connexions Meetings Programme, Innovation Tours, Ingredients Lab, Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards, and the addition of an all-new Manufacturing Advice Centre.
In line with show organizers’ aims to enrich the experience for both visitors and exhibitors, Gulfood Manufacturing 2019 will feature enhanced tailored meetings program and networking opportunities. The Gulfood Manufacturing Connexions Meetings Programme is the official one-to-one networking platform for exhibitors and visitors at the show where attendees will be able to search thousands of contacts in the Gulfood Manufacturing database and arrange meetings at the show.
Meanwhile, Innovation Tours will serve as the perfect networking platform, providing visitors with the chance to sample breakthrough products fresh out of food laboratories. Feel the power of versatile, high-speed machines churning out bags at 200 units per minute. The best food production showcases will be on display as the tours promise a crucial glimpse into real-life innovations at work inside some of the region’s top, award-winning food factories.
Alongside the extensive product and business facilitation program at Gulfood Manufacturing 2019, the exhibition will also host the Gulfood Manufacturing Foodtech Summit. The Summit will bring together international F&B experts, industry leaders, key decision makers, and innovators to discuss the market, developments, and the latest solutions to help the F&B industry improve quality, productivity and efficiency. Speakers like Brad Barbera, Director of Innovation and Senior Advisor – The Good Food Institute; Johan Nilsson, Vice President Industry 4.0 Solution & Digital, TetraPak; Abdelghany Eladib, COO Middle East and Africa of SIG Combibloc Obeikan and Samir Moftah, Director Research and Innovation, Quality and Food Safety, Danone and among others.
Visitors and exhibitors can maximize their Gulfood Manufacturing 2019 participation thanks to the co-location of the inaugural Private Label and Licensing Middle East 2019, an exhibition for food and non-food FMCG product mix expansion and brand placement; yummex Middle East, the event for the sweets and snacks industry; and SEAFEX Middle East, the only professional seafood event for Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Show Information
Gulfood Manufacturing 2019 is open from 10 am – 6 pm on 29-30 October and 10 am – 5pm on 31 October. The show is open to food and beverage industry professionals. www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector.
Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC).
She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book.
She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter.
Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler.
It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
