UAE foodies favour healthy choices
dubai — Should I order something from the fast food restaurant down the street, or pick up a healthy option from the supermarket on my way to work?
This seems to be the question many of us ask ourselves when deciding what to eat during the lunch hour break at work. Technological advances, urbanisation, and a change in lifestyles are dictating a shift in dietary habits that are reshaping the global food industry as consumers increasingly seek out products that are convenient, healthy, and sustainable across various categories including dairy, beverages, fats and oils, and more.
The demand for convenience is a key driver behind the growing popularity of breakfast cereal bars, while rising health awareness is largely responsible for a surge in demand for organic vegetables and beverages with reduced sugar and natural juices.
The emerging trends are being featured prominently at Gulfood 2017, which has undergone a format change to coincide with changing consumer habits. Health, Wellness and Free From will have its own dedicated segment, along with Beverages; Dairy; Fats & Oils; Power Brands; Pulses, Grains & Cereals and World Foods.
The health and wellness sector is projected to grow at four per cent globally over the next five years, while the sector’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the Mena region is forecast to be almost double the global average, growing at seven per cent over the same period. Cereals and pulses are likely to remain the most-consumed food categories. Trends within this segment include cereal bars that complement the ‘on-the-go’ snack movement and trendy grains such as quinoa, buckwheat and spirulina that suit paleo and other specialist diets.
“The most important trends right now are those relating to health, so I particularly like the idea of a separate ‘Health and
The most important trends right now are those relating to health, so I particularly like the idea of a separate ‘Health and Wellness’ category Mark Napier, Exhibitions director at DWTC, and show director for Gulfood 2017
Wellness’ category for 2017,” said Mark Napier, exhibitions director at DWTC, and show director for Gulfood 2017.
Santiago Aon, GM for the Middle East region for NZMP, the ingredients brand of Fonterra, noted that consumers in the Middle East and Africa are focusing more on nutrition and health awareness as they look for natural ingredients, minimal additives, and clean labels with clearly stated origins. The origin of their food is also important, with consumers wanting to know exactly how their food was produced and what inputs were used. More people are demanding complete transparency through the supply chain right back to what the animal was fed at the farm.
“Most of our products contain 100 per cent dairy with no artificial ingredients from grass to glass. We also take pride in the grass-fed origin of our New Zealand ingredients and we offer a large range of halal products. At Gulfood, we will offer products such as NZMP Spreadable Butter that spreads straight from the fridge and NZMP Pastry Butter used for delicious fresh croissants and Danish pastries. Additionally, NZMP will showcase a range of NZMP milk powders and innovative high-protein dairy beverage applications,” Aon revealed.
— rohma@khaleejtimes.com