Local and international companies that participated in Gulfood in Dubai were happy over the awareness the exhibition helped muster about their products with some reporting they had secured valuable new orders.

More than 30,000 trade visitors from 120 countries gathered at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
The region’s food and beverage industry is one of the fastest-growing worldwide, particularly since over 90 per cent of the Gulf’s food is imported. According to industry sources, the incredible growth of the GCC region’s hospitality and leisure segments offers international manufacturers major avenues for business development.
“Gulfood exhibition has grown significantly over the years, both in terms of exhibitors and trade visitors, and is an ideal platform for those engaged in the business to target new business opportunities,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organiser of Gulfood.
“Dubai is the world’s largest re-exporter with 72 per cent of its imports re-exported to 160 countries; it offers access to an estimated two billion consumers in the region. The regional franchising market is valued at $14 billion out of which fast food accounts for $5.6 billion,” said Al Marri.
Annual food imports into the GCC region were estimated to be over $12 billion in 2004.
Some of the major participants at Gulfood 2006 were agricultural processing firm Archer Daniels Midland; consumer foodstuffs importer Aramtec; food and drinks manufacturer Bomba; Latin American food conglomerate Empresas Carozzi; food processing equipment company Stork Food Systems and French beverage specialist Lorina.
Among other companies showcasing their products were Serbian Fruit representing fruit juice company Nectar, wild mushroom specialist Marni and dried fruit manufacturer Agranela; Aroma presenting Serbian red pepper; snack and confectionary manufacturer Pionir; Williamson Fine Teas of UK; and Gardiners of Scotland.
 “We project that this year we should conclude between Dh40-Dh50 million ($10.9 million – $13.6 million) of business as a direct result of our involvement,” said Hagop Kassabian, marketing manager, Abu Dhabi National Food Company (Foodco).
“50 per cent of this business is to the GCC or Mena markets, 20 per cent to the Indian Subcontinent and the rest to Europe,” said Kassabian.
Polipa, a Turkish company specialising in food container equipment, stated that following its participation at Gulfood it would be looking to open a permanent office in Dubai.
Kaya Erel, general manager, Polipa, said sales generated by the event would reach $500,000.    
From the UK pavilion, the regional manager of snack-food machinery equipment company Ishida commented that the trade visitor interest had prompted the company to look at diversifying their portfolio of product offerings. For example, the growing trend in snack foods – the ‘Prepared Salad’.
Luis Rota of Brazilian beef company ‘Friboi’, said: “Such is the importance of doing business at Gulfood that we are currently negotiating on a deal worth around  $3 million.”
Also in the multi-million-dollar deal category, Kanegrade (UAE) suggested that it expected business of around $2 to $3 million following its participation at the event.