Dubai trade shows for food promise new experiences, ingredients and foods

Source: The Speciality Food Festival website. Banner for The Speciality Food Festival.

The Speciality Food Festival, a dedicated gourmet event that has evolved purely from demand for international gourmet and fine foods, returns for an 8th edition this September.

To be held on 18 to 20 September 2017 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, the The Speciality Food Festival is part of Dubai International Hospitality Week (DIHW). With a surge in demand for speciality foods such as organic products - expected to reach a value of US$52 billion by 2021 - and the rise of the global halal industry - projected to hit US$3.7 trillion by 2019 - the expansion of this year’s Speciality Food Festival reflects the strong market potential in the region.

The Specialty Food Festival is an ideal platform for regional and global food producers, suppliers, importers and exporters to present their products to a screened audience of caterers, chefs, distributors, retailers and delicatessen outlets wishing to sample, source and order wholesale gourmet, organic, and speciality products. 

Showcasing a diverse selection of fine foods, from artisanal olive oils, pickles and chutneys to speciality coffee and teas and gourmet staples such as charcuterie, bakery and dairy, as well as rare spices and ingredients, the trade show continues to attract exhibitors, including for the first time, brands from Taiwan and Thailand. With hundreds of new launches at the show, F&B professionals will be able to source up to 2,800 ingredients and foods that had previously not been available in the region. 

It also includes the Cezve/Ibrik Championship, where the best regional and international baristas from global food and beverage chains gather for recognition and knowledge. This competition is organised by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE).

The 2016 edition of The Speciality Food Festival saw participation of 230+ exhibitors from 38 countries. A combined number of 15,000 buyers attended the event. 

Koelnmesse, organiser of yummex Middle East (ME), shares that the international trade fair for sweets and snacks in the MENA region celebrates its 11th anniversary this year. The countries with the strongest participation include India, Malaysia, and Turkey, Koelnmesse said. There will be 19 regional and international pavilions. 

"Following the successful anniversary of the previous year, yummex ME 2017 will offer expanded access to the attractive hospitality and foodservice market in the region with its new setup in the context of the Dubai Hospitality Week and emphasise the importance of global trends for regional markets," said Denis Steker, VP, International of Koelnmesse. "Together with the other trade fairs taking place simultaneously, yummex ME optimally addresses the great demand in the retail and hospitality areas."

In 2016, 364 companies from 47 countries presented their products at yummex Middle East. The event hosted 8,180 visitors from 83 countries. 

SEAFEX Middle East is the only professional seafood event for the MENA region. This is where food professionals sourcing the latest in wild, farmed and value added seafood can discover new product lines that will satisfy today’s adventurous and increasingly health-conscious consumers. The 6th edition invites professional chefs, catering buyers, wholesalers, restaurant owners and retail distributors to attend.

DIHW is a three-day trading platform endorsed by Dubai Tourism. It brings together hospitality trade events GulfHost, The Speciality Food Festival and SEAFEX organised by Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), yummex Middle East jointly organised by DWTC and Koelnmesse plus The Hotel Show organised by DMG Events. The event is set to attract more than 50,000 visitors, trading at an optimal phase before the hospitality high season. 

Interested?

SEAFEX is at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Za'abeel Hall 4. It is a trade-only event

The Speciality Food Festival is at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Za'abeel Hall 5 and Hall 6. It is a trade-only event

The yummex ME 2017 event is at Za'abeel Hall 2, Za'abeel Hall 3, Za'abeel Hall 4, and Za'abeel Hall 6. It is a trade-only event