SOLD OUT!

ORGANISERS of Gulfood have announced that a full five months before the show is due to start on 19 February 2012, that every inch of the event's 100,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre has been sold. Once again, the world's largest annual trade exhibition for the food and beverage industry is on track to provide a global platform for Middle East food and beverage trade and reinforce the region's status as one of the world's key growth markets for the industry.

Gulfood 2011 generated phenomenal global growth for region's food & beverage industry. Ending on a record high, the 16th edition attracted 62,024 trade visitors (+12% from 2010) from 152 countries (81 in 2010). Over 93,201 square feet of exhibition space was allocated to 3,800 exhibitors (vs. 3,500 in 2010) bringing products, services and innovations from 80 countries around the world to the Middle East.

Established 24 years ago, Gulfood is undoubtedly the most regional marketing platform and meeting point for manufacturers and buyers, and since its first edition in 1987 has achieved the status of being the largest and most-attended event in the Middle East, owing to these factors:

The Gulf countries depend heavily on the import of various food, food service and food processing products;

The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries have a high ??per capita income level, a taste for novel products and interest in quality food; and

GCC food import bills are expected to more than double from US$ 25.8 billion in 2010 to US$ 53.1 billion by 2020, and recent research from Alpen Capital forecasts that food consumption per capita across GCC the looks set to rise by more than 20% over the next five years.

"Gulfood is a dynamic industry event with a track record of bringing together the most influential food and beverage trade companies who forge new international partnerships and conduct multi-million dollar deals both during and after the show," said Trixee Loh, senior vice president, Dubai World Trade Centre, the organiser of Gulfood.

"The growing demand for food products in the GCC and across the wider Middle East makes Gulfood an essential event for those organisations and companies either looking to make inroads into the region, or expand their market share," Ms Loh added. "Time and again, Gulfood has proved it is the only Middle East event that consistently delivers and generates vast quantities of new trade for the industry."

Dynamic features and live events
As well as showcasing a truly global array of quality products, ingredients and services, Gulfood 2012 is hosting the region's most significant F&B conference, with expert presentations, including dedicated sessions on food manufacturing and processing featuring some of the industry's most innovative pioneers, and the 'Foodpreneur', an opportunity for ambitious entrepreneurs to find invaluable advice related to their start-up business.Once again, the annual Gulfood Awards will highlight the industry's outstanding companies – both newcomers and established organisations – with a gala ceremony, celebrating their achievements for best food and beverage products and services, and raising their profiles.

Ingredients Middle East and Restaurant & Café Middle East run concurrently with the show, creating a 360-degree industry offering for buyers and vendors. The value of networking is also harnessed at Gulfood, through the Gulfood Majlis, a commercial forum that provides a discreet but focused environment for senior industry professionals to network and develop new business opportunities.

For the Hospitality sector, the enormously popular Emirates International Salon Culinaire returns to demonstrate the energy, inspiration and passionADIDAS