Gulfood Manufacturing off to a very strong start, with sustainability and innovation the watchwords

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, opened the much-anticipated leading global F&B event Gulfood Manufacturing at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). He was received at the event by H.E. Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

Reaffirming Dubai’s position as hub for sustainable manufacturing and innovation, over 3,000 exhibitors showcased their latest products, services, and solutions to an international buyer audience across four co-located events: Gulfood Manufacturing, The Speciality Food Festival, ISM Middle East and Private Label ME. All four events will run until November 9^th.

Insightful Food Tech Summit

The opening sessions of the Foodtech Summit at Gulfood Manufacturing saw insightful discussions from global industry experts who are transforming food production. In his opening keynote address, Tariq AlHashmi, Director of Technology Adoption and Development at the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) considered the food industry’s role in achieving global climate and sustainability goals, and how sustainable solutions will be a hot topic of discussion in the new era of F&B manufacturing.

AlHashmi commented, “Today, technology has become a key catalyst for change, particularly for our food systems. It is critical to harness the immense potential of food technologies to create more resilient supply chains. As a global hub for advanced manufacturing, and innovation, the UAE is an ideal platform from which to develop nurture and propel these technologies and innovations. The country already has a track record of facilitating the development and deployment of advanced food technologies, and is exploring innovative, sustainable food solutions not only for itself, but for the entire world.”

Food manufacturing innovators recognized

The first day of Gulfood Manufacturing also saw the announcement of the winners of the Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards 2023, which aims to recognize the most innovative products and technologies that have made outstanding contributions to the industry over the past year.

GEA Middle East FZE was named Sustainable Company of the Year for its Low Carbon Heat Network, with Tetra Pak Export FZE winning the Best Packaging Innovation Award for its Tetra Prisma Aseptic 330 Square with DreamCap 26, and Ishida Europe Ltd scooping the Best Food Safety Innovation award for its The IX-PD X-ray inspection system.

This year, over 600 international submissions were received across ten award categories, with three new categories reflecting the emphasis on sustainability at this year’s event: Renewable Energy Initiative, Plant-Based Manufacturing Company of the Year; and Sustainability Champion of the Year.

Top Table Gourmand kicks off

Three DWTC food and beverage events are co-located with Gulfood Manufacturing from 7-9 November 2023. The 12^th edition of the Speciality Food Festival (SFF) turned DWTC into a bustling marketplace and experiential ground for everything gourmet and fine food. SFF was also the venue for Top Table Gourmand, where visitors enjoyed immersive masterclasses on day one from renowned Michelin-starred chefs Alexander Stumpf, Executive Chef and Co-Owner at BB Social Dining; and Kelvin Cheung, Executive Chef and Partner at Jun’s. Meanwhile the Blend Studio was a chance to uncover the beverage industry’s most sophisticated and trending flavrs, crafted by innovative mixologists and baristas.

For more information and to register, visit Gulfood Manufacturing, The Speciality Food Festival, ISM Middle East, and Private Label Middle East.

Attendance is free and gives registrants access to the entire ecosystem of four events with a single pass. The event is strictly for trade professionals only.