GULFOOD

FEBRUARY 17-21, 2019 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE (DWTC), DUBAI

Being held under a new theme – ‘The World of Good, The World of Food’ – Gulfood 2019 will showcase the global diversity of ‘food’ via its international exhibitor base and a major pool of Michelin-starred chefs participating in the all-new Tastes of the World competition. Many of the largest country pavilions have already committed to the contest, including France, Germany, Spain, Japan and Brazil.

On the ‘good’ side, shifting consumer preferences for health food options and other industry-shaping topics will feature heavily in the Gulfood Innovation Summit from February 18-20. The Summit will set the scene for three days of high-caliber industry discussion with the airing of a global social and economic outlook for the F&B industry on its first day.

Ranging from sector disruptors such as Beyond Meat, to major global entities including The United Nations World Food Programme, the Summit will feature in-depth discussions and exclusive question-andanswer sessions with globally acclaimed chefs, influencers and industry leaders on the challenges of introducing breakthrough concepts to local markets.

New experiential zones raise the bar

Also new for Gulfood 2019 is a range of immersive features designed to enhance visitor experience and facilitate greater business opportunities, including CXO Club, Start-up Programme, the Meat-me competition, Tea House, and a dedicated Health Lab.

• Meat Me The two-day competition will see Us-style barbeque pit masters from Uae-based restaurants go head to head in ‘smoking’ and BBQ masterclasses and cook-offs. The contest has won early support from American chef and pitmaster Orelle Young of The Blacksmith Smokehouse Dubai, the emirate’s first real smokehouse, who believes the Gulfood spotlight can give the segment a much-deserved boost.

• Tea House This on-trend experience will enliven the Beverages Hall. Sponsored and organised by Tea Valley, part of India’s innovative DJ Group, the program will feature performances by Assamese and Moroccan dance professionals, a Chinese tea ceremony, as well as workshops and seminars probing the health attributes of tea, the basics of the drink and tea art.

• Health Lab Health Lab is a core component of the show’s ‘good’ proposition and will address rising consumer demand for healthy ingredients and overall products, a movement identified as a key global growth driver by French syrups and drinks producer Monin, which is returning to Gulfood for a 12th showing. Monin plans to use Gulfood 2019 to launch its new La Flavour de Monin range, which comprises natural and authentic concentrated fruit, herbal and spicy flavors without any added sugar or sweeteners.

• Start-up Programme The show’s new Start-up Program will see more than 50 entrepreneurs from around the world demonstrate their increasing penetration of the international F&B segment, and will feature a conference series focused on topics concerning F&B start-ups, and a pitch platform

• CXO Club The CXO Club offers a closed business breakfast club for the industry’s proven risk-takers to explore and set new industry pathways.