Gulfood
Gulfood 2012: Sold out five months before show starts The organisers of Gulfood, the world's largest annual trade exhibition for the food and beverage industry, have announced that the event sold its one million square feet of exhibition space a full five months before the show is due to start on 19 February 2012 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The show, which last year attracted a record 62,000 visitors from more than 150 countries and 3,800 exhibitors, is once again 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.
According to recent research from Alpen Capital, food consumption per capita across the Gulf Co-operation Countries (GCC) looks set to rise by more than 20% over the next five years 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.
"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. 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," said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, the organiser of Gulfood. "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."
As well as showcasing a truly global array of quality food products 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, Leaders in Food - featuring some of the industry's most innovative pioneers - and ‘Foodpreneur, an opportunity for ambitious entrepreneurs to find invaluable advice related to their start up business.
In recognition of best food and beverage products and services, the annual Gulfood Awards will highlight the industry's outstanding companies - both newcomers and established organisations - with a gala ceremony, celebrating their achievements and raising their profiles.
The enormously popular Emirates International Salon Culinaire returns to demonstrate the energy, inspiration and passion of more than 1,300 young chefs as they compete to become stars of the future. From practical cooking competitions to buffet and banqueting show pieces, the chefs will showcase the best of Middle East culinary talent. Competitors are evaluated by a panel of 25 renowned experts, mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) to judge culinary events across the globe, ensuring the highest competition standards.
In another competitive element to Gulfood, the Pastry & Baking Salon is the perfect platform for showcasing the talents of professional Pastry Chefs across the UAE and GCC region. The competition is open to all pastry chefs and bakers working in the UAE/GCC, to compete in static display and live baking across twelve categories.
Restaurant & Café Middle East and Ingredients Middle East run concurrently with the show, creating a 360-degree industry offering for buyers and vendors. Ingredients Middle East is the only event in the region to address the growing food manufacturing and processing sector.
Leading companies from around the world, who cultivate, extract, process or supply raw materials and ingredients used in the manufacturing of finished food, beverage and health food products will present their latest ingredients and processing solutions.
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.
Gulfood is strictly a trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors from within the industry only. Gulfood is open 11am - 7pm from Sunday 19 February to Tuesday 21 February and 11am - 5pm on Wednesday 22 February.
For more information, please visit http://www.gulfood.com/.
About Gulfood
Organised since 1987, Gulfood is the region's largest and most important industry event of the year and a strategic platform for buyers and sellers to conduct direct business face to face. The exhibition is a showcase for manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers from around the world, representing all of the key sectors within the food and hospitality trade.
About Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
As the organiser of Gulfood 2012, Dubai World Trade Centre offers more than 32 years experience delivering world-class events in the Middle East, providing local, regional and international exhibitors with unmatched expertise and in-depth market knowledge. Our team organises 18 of the largest and most successful international and regional shows in Middle East, providing an ideal platform for business development in the region.
Our commitment to ongoing innovation within the exhibition industry has supported the rapid growth and development of a wide range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer shows, and delivered consistent satisfaction to exhibitors and visitors. DWTC works with the leading trade bodies and industry associations to ensure that all exhibitions deliver full value and are built upon the real needs of their specific sector.