Were you there?
Having returned from a successful trip to Dubai last week where we attended Gulfood Manufacturing, we are keen to know what others thought of the event. Exhibitors during the show appeared very positive and there certainly seemed to be plenty of visitors to the Dubai World Trade Centre where the event was held.
Sweets & Snacks Middle East 2014 was held alongside Gulfood and the organisers reported an increase in visitors over the previous year of 13 per cent. Visitors, who predominantly travelled to Dubai from the MENA region, took advantage of the diversity of products at the fair – about 230 suppliers from 38 countries and about thirty per cent more than at the previous event in 2013.
According to Euromonitor International, the sales market for sweets and snacks in the Middle East has risen by 20 per cent annually since 2010. Comparable rates of increase are also anticipated for the coming year. This is due to the increase in disposable income and the trend towards high-end products in the growing middle class throughout the MENA region. Leading manufacturers from around the world included BMB (UAE), Cémoi (France), Duc D’O (Belgium), Lambertz (Germany), Original Candy (UK), Original Gourmet (USA), Peccin (Brazil), Roshen (Ukraine) or Witor’s (Italy).
In particular, this year was marked by a strong growth in exhibitor numbers from Europe and Asia. Germany, Jordan and Turkey also presented their products over a much larger area than at previous shows.
Now we are back in the UK, preparations are well under way for the final issue of CP for 2014, and with our 80th year about to dawn, we will be marking the occasion with a new look for the magazine. Of course, I can’t give too much away, but we look forward to hearing what you think when the magazine lands on your desk in early January 2015. In the meantime, do let us know if your business or brand has been around for as long as we have. We’re more than happy to share the limelight!
