Gulfood Manufacturing and ISM Middle East shine a valuable light on industry
This week’s Gulfood Manufacturing has certainly proved that the appetite for doing business at live events in Dubai region is very much back with a bang.
From new equipment launches from the likes of Ishida with its latest line in checkweighing systems, ingredients breakthroughs from firms such as Cargill in devising ‘postbiotics’ wellbeing-focused confectionery lines, through to businesses including Sacmi Packaging and Chocolate exploring its enhanced focus on digitalisation of its machinery series, there’s been no shortage of innovation on show across its three days.
Similarly with ISM Middle East, hundreds of exhibitors from as far afield as Brazil, Ukraine and a small contingent from the UK has ensured that there has been a truly international dynamic to the event once again at Dubai’s World Trade Centre.
In speaking to many leading businesses across the industry, it’s patently clear that major challenges are still facing the food and drink sector, as much as many other sectors in terms of electronic component supply delays, uncertain economies and the ongoing energy crisis, yet there is a commendable sense of determination being exhibited out there.
So, it’s only really by being out there among the industry at events such as Gulfood that you can genuinely measure the temperature of the sector, and in spite of all these tests, many firms are recording strong levels of machinery and systems sales. Demand is assuredly still very much out there, it’s just the landscape of trading has shifted in recent months, and indeed during the past couple of years.
Gulfood, and indeed ISM Middle East have collectively offered a very valuable window on key developments for the region, with the UAE in particular demonstrating resilience in attracting a number of emerging and major businesses to set up in the immediate region.
All in all, it’s been excellent to play our part as media partners for this year’s shows, which point the way to many of the trends that will be emerging in the coming months as a hugely significant 2023 lies ahead on the horizon.
Neill Barston, editor, Confectionery Production
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