Gulfood 2019 brings new-to-market products and leading innovation

The 24^th edition of Gulfood – one of the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade show at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) – is running from February 17-21, 2019. The F&B trade show was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.

The five-day show, spread across 1,000,000 sqft, offers a platform for game-changing business deals, new market opportunities and emerging trends, while setting the agenda for the future of food. Top-level trade missions have converged on Gulfood 2019 from 198 countries to highlight the quality and diversity of their products to feed the region’s needs.

The Gulfood Global Industry Outlook Report 2019, complied by Euromonitor International, which is officially released at the show, forecasts F&B sales in the MENA region will rise from $145.4 billion in 2018 to $171.2 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 3.33%.

“Gulfood has long-established itself as the premier industry forum for F&B specialists to explore lucrative trade deals and launch new market-specific products and solutions in a region that is constantly evolving with demand for food and consumer spending increasing year-on-year,” says Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, Events and Exhibitions at DWTC. “This year’s show ensures exhibitors will have that crucial face time with existing partners and potential new clients, while a range of immersive new features have been added to enhance the on-show experience.”

Running alongside the main exhibition, the new three-day Gulfood Innovation Summit – from February 18-20 – will bring together some the major players in the industry to examine the latest challenges and opportunities in the global F&B landscape.

The first-ever Gulfood Start-Up Programme welcomes F&B entrepreneurs to demonstrate how their contribution to the industry is lighting the way for a smarter future. Some 50-plus start-ups from around the world will benefit from a pitch platform, during which they can demonstrate their game-changing ideas to potential investors, and a dedicated conference series where industry mentors and success stories will examine the major topics concerning FB start-ups and SMEs.

Among the other features are ‘Tastes of the World’ that will see Michelin-starred chefs and kitchen captains showing off their skills in a range of masterclasses and live cook-offs. Other new features are being held under the theme ‘The World of Good’ – including ‘Tea House’ and ‘Barbecue Masters’.