His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, today opened Gulfood 2020, the landmark 25th edition of the region’s longest-running annual food and beverage (F&B) trade show at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
As an industry pioneer and weathervane for global F&B sector trend-tracking, Gulfood 2020 is an open invitation for F&B producers to demonstrate how they are ‘Rethinking Food’ to serve a global population that is set to race past eight billion by 2030.
The five-day mega exhibition, which runs until Thursday 20 February, has attracted high-calibre interest from government ministers, trade delegations and national organisations who are showcasing the latest F&B innovations and exploring exhaustive business opportunities as the global F&B sector seeks to keep pace with changing consumer habits and spiraling spending, which now stands at more than USD 7.2 trillion annually, according to the Gulfood 2020 Industry Outlook Report.
Touring the exhibition, HH Sheikh Hamdan was given a snapshot of the latest innovations and technologies that are redefining the regional food sector landscape at DWTC this week amid growing demand.
Gulfood marks Silver Jubilee
Gulfood 2020 will showcase large-scale innovation in the F&B sector, with a wide array of industry disruptors exhibiting innovative products and solutions, new-to-region flavours and products, and the global networking opportunities with F&B businesses from every corner of the world.
“The rising demand for sustainability in the F&B sector, coupled with consumer trends that have shifted dramatically and the growing shift away from animal-based foods, headline the Gulfood 2020 agenda. The challenge for the F&B industry is to fast-track innovation and provide safe and sustainable food sources for an increasingly eco-conscious global population. Gulfood’s 25th anniversary is the perfect place to experience, analyse and collaborate on developing solutions that will propel the F&B sector into this thrilling new decade of opportunity,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Exhibitions and Events, DWTC.
Running alongside the main exhibition, the second edition of the three-day Gulfood Innovation Summit will bring together major players from across the international industry to examine the latest challenges and opportunities in the global F&B market.
To mark its silver anniversary, Gulfood 2020 has rolled out a host of new features and initiatives to further enhance the visitor experience.
Tastes of the World, one of Gulfood’s most popular features, returns in 2020 with an extraordinary line-up of renowned food change-makers and Michelin-starred chefs showcasing cuisine innovation.
Starting on Monday 17 and running until Wednesday 19 February, the Gulfood Innovation Summit has attracted a power-packed line-up of speakers including high-ranking ministers, thought-leaders and industry stalwarts. Speakers taking to the Summit stage include HE Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi, Minister of State for Food Security of the UAE; HH Prince Waleed Al Saud, President – Saudi Arabia Restaurant and Cafés Association, and Darine Al Khatib, Goodwill Ambassador, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
Gulfood 2020 is a trade event open strictly to business and trade visitors. The show is open 11am-7pm from February 16–19 and 11am-5pm on February 20. For more information, visit www.gulfood.com
– zawya.com