French exports to UAE up by 80% in 5 years

At the recently held Speciality Food Festival 2013, a French contingent consisting of 10 companies presented fine food products for the first time, according to a report by UBIFRANCE. They are Biofood Touraine (French macaroons); Cafes Henri (coffee roaster and retailer); Fruidoraix (designer sweets and nougats); Like Dat (juice from natural extracts of date); Maffren (calissons, nougats, marzipan and caramels); Memmi Boutargue (mullet roe, salted and dried); Mericq (French seafood trader); Monbaba (chocolate drinks and chocolate accompaniment products for food service market); Pep ABCD/Karea (chilled and frozen egg products); and Sur Le Sentier des Bergers.

According to Sophia Salmi, head of the Agribusiness Department at the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in Dubai: “With the development of tourism and the steady increase in the population, the United Arab Emirates is a real opportunity for French companies in the food sector (agricultural, food and beverages, equipment, etc.). The hospitality industry is a key sector for the French food exports and fit perfectly with the offer of French products. For all these reasons, France must be present at the Speciality Food Festival 2013.”

Shipments of food and beverage from France grew by 80% in the United Arab Emirates in five years, noted the website. It said that in 2012, French exports reached $401.68 million, up by 13% compared to the previous year. Exports of dairy products in particular increased by some 48% to reach $46.88 million.

The Speciality Food Festival was held in the Dubai World Trade Centre from 17-19 November, concurrent with SEAFEX, and Sweets & Snacks Middle East. Only four years, it has become a prominent event for the fine food & gourmet sector in the region.