Spotlight On Sustainability In Gulf Food This Year

5000 exhibitors participated in the exhibition.

"The theme of sustainability runs through multiple elements of the event, including the Gulfood Inspire Conference, first-time green Michelin-starred global chefs at Top Table, and Gulfood Green, our new initiative to create an omnipresent sustainable food and beverage platform," says Mark Napier, VP—EExhibitions, Dubai World Trade Centre. "The event underscores the UAE’s position at the forefront of industry transformation and leads the way in tackling critical issues in the sector."

According to the report, Gulfood has a long-standing legacy as a globally trusted event and is a key contributor to the economic growth of Dubai.

The 2022 edition of Gulfood saw over $10 billion (Dh36.7 billion) in trade deals made on the show floor, reaffirming Dubai’s reputation as a global F&B hub.

"With the UAE preparing to host COP28 later this year, Gulfood is without a doubt going to serve as a critical opportunity to convene the global F&B industry in the first quarter of the year and continue the shift towards more sustainable food production and consumption," says Napier, adding, "The UAE is a pioneer of this shift, having witnessed, for example, an increase in the availability of locally grown and plant-based options and the implementation of zero waste strategies by the nation’s restaurants, helping to pave the way to a more diverse and resilient food system."

The report mentions that Gulfood Green is a unique sustainability initiative launched to drive a shift towards more resilient and sustainable food production and consumption.

"As part of Gulfood Green, we have also launched our own Gulfood Forest, an international tree-planting initiative to conserve, restore, and grow trees across the globe to help curb climate change." "The food industry is known to be a major carbon emitter, and the Gulfood Forest will enable stakeholders of the event, from exhibitors and visitors to the wider public, to get involved and plant trees to help restore global forests," says Mark Napier, VP of Exhibitions at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Gulfood Green Awards will also take place this year, which celebrates excellence in sustainability and encourages green best practises across the F&B industry.

According to the report, the region's largest trade-only F&B event draws companies from around the world, including first-time participants Nepal, Armenia, Cambodia, and Iraq, and provides an ideal platform for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and buyers in the sector to explore opportunities, close deals, network, and share know-how about industry trends and best practices.

"Pavilions from South Africa and Australia will return after a break as more nations and organisations recognise the need to manage global hunger and food security, implementing innovative solutions to provide better access to healthier, more nutritious foods while managing the impact on the environment," says Napier.

Among other countries, Malaysia has a strong presence at Gulfood, with 71 companies showcasing a variety of food and beverages under the aegis of Malaysia’s national trade promotion agency, Matrade, according to the report.

According to the report, one of the UAE’s top grocery retailers, Choithrams, has been participating at Gulfood since 2009 and is looking forward to connecting with suppliers and distributors.

"Gulfood is the largest food exhibition of its kind in the region, where we have the opportunity to explore plenty of new products." "It is also a good place to network, find out about new trends and products, and meet new suppliers," says Rajiv Warrier, CEO of Choithrams.

CEO, Choithrams, adding, "While we usually focus more on the UAE at Gulfood, this year our plan is to explore opportunities in the GCC region given our presence in Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman." "We will also be awarding our top suppliers in the GCC at the event."

Commenting on bringing the industry together, the report further mentioned that, under the Qualiko brand, European poultry producer MHP Group is participating at Gulfood to drive business and meet potential buyers and distributors.

"Our decision to participate in Gulfood was influenced by our first successful participation in the exhibition in 2016, as well as the number of new leads and enquiries we have received over the years.""Gulfood has always proven to be excellent for us, offering an unrivalled opportunity to meet our key partners and customers, build awareness of the brand, and generate an outstanding level of interest in our products," says Eugene Levterov, Head, MHP MENA.

The UAE's food industry, which will be worth $6.1 billion in 2022, is growing because the GDP per person is going up, people stick to their habits, and tourism is coming back.

"The increase in consumption was driven by the resumption of socio-economic activities after the pandemic as well as major events like Expo 2020 that continued taking place during the first quarter of 2022." "It is expected that the market will continue to grow over the next five years at a rate of 4 percent between 2023 and 2027," says Ibrahim Rezk, Research Analyst at Euromonitor International.

While commenting on the key trends shaping the sector, Ibrahim Rezk, Research Analyst at Euromonitor International, says that the impact of COVID-19 has further amplified the need for a healthier lifestyle, a trend that is gaining traction in the UAE. "There is an increase in demand for plant-based foods, along with dairy, meat, and seafood alternatives," said the report.

He says that the need for digital platforms in the food industry has grown, which is pushing retailers and digital start-ups to invest quickly in this area.

"Consumers now have many more options to order food in the UAE." "Digital marketplaces, traditional retailers, and delivery start-ups have all begun to tackle the opportunity in fresh food delivery from different angles," Rezk adds.