His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), today opened a quartet of sector-specific global food trade platforms at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), as the emirate’s strategic multi-industry facilitator credentials received global endorsements from international food industry professionals.

HH Sheikh Ahmed was accompanied by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and Director General of Dubai’s Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and a delegation of industry VIPs. The delegation toured the inaugural Private Label & Licensing Middle East, the MENA region’s only dedicated trade platform for the lucrative private label and licensing; Gulfood Manufacturing, the largest food and beverage processing and packaging show for the Middle  East, Asia and Africa; and yummex Middle East and SEAFEX Middle East, a pair of food industry events homing in on confectioneries and seafood, respectively.

Touring various exhibitor stands across the four exhibitions, the delegation received insights and overviews of the latest innovations, trends, products and services disrupting the F&B and FMCG landscape. The delegation discussed industry transformation with major global brands including Agthia Group, Carrefour, Unilever, Cartoon Network, Awafi Foodstuff and Emirates Macaroni at Private Label & Licensing Middle East, as well as TetraPak, Firmenich, Siemens, Falcon Pack and Tate & Lyle at Gulfood Manufacturing.

Held under the umbrella of the Gulfood power brand, which is preparing to celebrate its 25^th anniversary in 2020, the four trade platforms have attracted more than 2,800 collective exhibitors, highlighting the rapid transformation and exhaustive opportunities available for smart FMCG innovators and early adopters across a multitude of food-influenced industries, including retail, hospitality, aviation and more.

“The inaugural edition of first Private Label & Licensing Middle East is a direct response to exhibitor and visitor demand for a dedicated private label, brand licensing and contract manufacturing event,” said Trixie LohMirmand Senior Vice President, Exhibitions and Events, DWTC. “The fact Private Label & Licensing Middle East is being held under our Gulfood power brand highlights the abundant opportunities available in this growing segment, although the spectrum of possibilities extends right across the FMCG product sphere. This strategic co-location enables unprecedented cross-sector business facilitation, thereby reinforcing Dubai’s strategic position as a gateway to multi-industry opportunities across our footprint markets.”

A Prime Debut

Private Label and Licensing Middle East 2019 features more than 140 international brands from 50-plus countries. The region’s one-a-kind expo boasts some of the biggest names in food, hospitality and FMCG sectors, including Amazon, Saudi Arabia’s retail company Panda; regional retail brand Carrefour, Nesto Hypermarket LLC, HyperPanda, Noon, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Global Food Industries, Cartoon Network and more.

A key highlight on day one was the launch of the Prime Summit, a tailored platform for industry experts to share insights on product innovations and the latest market trends, including sessions on ideation, distribution and customer loyalty.

Among the key industry leaders sharing knowledge and exploring opportunities were Peter Gale, Managing Director of Retailer Services at Nielsen, who provided insights on the key drivers of change set to influence the global private label landscape over the next five years in the conference’s opening session; John Francis, Head of Private Label and Own Brands – Al Khayyat Investments / Bin Sina Pharmacy, and Miguel Povedano, COO, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, amongst others.

“By 2025, we predict private label turnover will contribute 20 per cent of Majid Al Futtaim’s total global sales. Private label brands currently contribute six per cent of our MENA region sales,” said Povedano. “Carrefour is looking at making sure the entire process of the product is controlled and that’s why we are moving towards creating a full private label brand.”

Gulfood Manufacturing gives green light for sustainable packaging

The sixth edition of Gulfood Manufacturing features more than 1,600 exhibitors from 60-plus countries displaying end-to-end processing, manufacturing and packaging solutions for the evolving F&B industry. In line with changing consumer trends, Gulfood Manufacturing’s global packaging companies are showcasing an abundance of sustainable packaging products this year.

SIG Combibloc Obeikan (SIG CBOB), one of the world’s leading systems and solutions providers in aseptic packing and filling machines for F&B products, has launched its first combibloc EcoPlus packaging at Gulfood Manufacturing. Comprised of 80 per cent cardboard from bio-based raw material wood sourced from sustainably managed forests, the solution has a 28 per cent reduced CO2 footprint. The product has been produced for Fair Cape Dairies, a South Africa-based dairy farm.

Abdelghany Eladib, Chief Operating Officer, SIG CBOB, said: “With the launch of combibloc EcoPlus in the MEA region, SIG and Fair Cape Dairies are taking a stand for the environment. Fair Cape Dairies is leading the way in the African market as a company that acts sustainably and responsibly. Gulfood Manufacturing is the perfect platform to launch such products. We continue to innovate with new products to address consumers’ ever-changing needs.”

Elsewhere, the Gulfood Manufacturing Connexions Meetings Programme is a customised networking platform for exhibitors and visitors, whereby registered visitors and exhibitors can search thousands of contacts in the show database and arrange one-to-one meetings. Meanwhile, tailored Innovation Tours offer visitors the chance to glimpse groundbreaking industry initiatives and explore the latest innovations in machinery. Finally, the Ingredients Lab includes curated masterclasses and demonstrations by headline exhibitors.

The quartet of food and FMCG trade shows are open to trade professionals only and run until Thursday, 31 October. The shows are open 10 am – 6 pm on 29-30 October and 10 am – 5pm on 31 October. For more information, visit http://www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com