20 years of Gulfood

BREAKING its own record every year, Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade show, expects participation from over 4,800 international companies and more than 85,000 visitors from all over the world when it opens on 8 February 2015 in Dubai.

The 2015 edition also marks Gulfood’s 20^th year of serving the region’s food & hospitality industries, linking suppliers from various regions, and opening distribution channels for business.

Gulfood sees attendance from finished food suppliers, bulk commodity wholesalers and exporters of fresh, frozen, dry and processed products. Major food and beverage products featured at the show are meat, cereals, grains, rice, and coffee and tea. Every year, an increasing number of international heads of state, ministers and government officials also attend Gulfood conferences and summits, as national trade associations ink bi-lateral trade agreements and debate food industry trends.

“A landmark celebration such as the 20^th anniversary of Gulfood is an opportunity to reflect on the show’s growth in both scale and stature over the past two decades, and to reiterate the role Gulfood continues to play in brokering significant partnerships and business deals between companies, corporations and countries around the world,” said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president for Exhibitions & Events, DWTC.   

To prepare for increased participation at Gulfood, the exhibition area at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will cover 127,000m², which includes a 23,000m², purpose-built temporary structure.

Gulfood is also a major contributor to Dubai’s reputation as a global events destination and a key pillar of Dubai’s 2020 tourism vision, which aims to double the emirate’s annual visitors numbers from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million in 2020. According to a recent report by Euromonitor, the number of F&B outlets in the UAE is expected to double in the next four years.

Dubai as major trading centre

The event also highlights Dubai’s role as a trading hub for the global food industry. The UAE is a major re-export hub. This and a growing population as well as expanding hospitality and tourism markets contribute to the rise in demand for food staples by 30% annually, said the Ministry of Economy. With imports accounting for between 80-90% of GCC food consumption, Dubai is best placed to cater for increasing demand in regional food trading.

Gulfood Awards

On its sixth year, the Gulfood Awards highlights best-in-class excellence. Judged by an international panel of independent industry experts, the Awards will be divided in six categories and 10 different awards.  It is scheduled on 10 February 2015 at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai. A special presentation on Gulfood achievements for the past 20 editions, will also take place. Over 1,000 leading industry decision-makers, celebrity chefs, key exhibitors, customers, media and national groups are expected to attend the anniversary event.

Emirates Culinary Guild International Salon Culinaire

The Emirates Culinary Guild International Salon Culinaire – a showcase of the region’s best culinary talent and expertise, will be held at the Za’abeel Pavilion. More than 1,300 professional chefs, cooks and bakers, evaluated by a panel of 25 renowned experts, mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) to judge culinary events across the globe, will join these exercises.

Gulfood 2015 is a strict trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors. The show is open 11am-7pm from February 8-11 and 11am-5pm on February 12. Visitors can pre-register at www.gulfood.com to save AED100 (US$ 27) on the on-site entry fee of AED250 (US$ 66.65).