Final preparations are being made for this year’s Gulfood Manufacturing event in Dubai, with a diverse range of equipment and systems set to gain a major region showcase, writes Neill Barston.

As previously reported, the country’s sweets and snacks market is now worth some $400 billion annually, making the segment especially noteworthy for the global industry. 

For this year’s event, Confectionery Production returns as a media partner for the show, which runs between 3-5 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, alongside ISM Middle East, with its core focus on sweets and snacks.

As our title has previously noted, while geopolitical tensions remain in the region, with regards to the Iran war, as well as with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, event organisers are planning for the expo to proceed fully as planned in just a few weeks’ time.

According to the event organisers, the UAE is ramping-up its manufacturing ambitions, targeting AED 2 billion in annual food import substitution through local production, supporting up to 200 food factories and increasing local production capacity by 15–30 per cent, underlining its clear focus on driving economic growth in the region.

BCH is set to return to Gulfood Manufacturing. Pic; BCH

Furthermore, as Confectionery Production has observed, analysts have asserted that there remains considerable untapped potential for the broader region, in terms of new product development, as well area specific ingredients, including cultural and dietary considerations, which often have specific manufacturing requirements.

In response, a wide array of equipment manufacturers are set to make a key appearance as exhibitors at the two key events – which return side-by-side for the first time in three years, providing full coverage of the region’s industry value chain.

Key processing and packaging businesses including  GEA, Heat & Control, Husky, Ishida, KHS, Krones, Middleby, Multivac, SIG Combibloc, Sidel, Tetra Pak and TNA, alongside ingredients powerhouses ADM International, BUNGE, Cargill, Palsgaard Chocolake, Döhler, DSM, Givaudan, IFF, IFFCO, MANE and Symrise will all play their part.

The event also features a number of national pavilions, including a strong contingent of British-based businesses including BCH equipment, DC Norris, Silverson machines, Sugden processing machines, and Tate & Lyle ingredients to name a few.

In addition, supply chain specialists including ACME, Addverb, Delta Systems and Kanoo Machinery, are set to gather in Dubai to showcase the technologies and expertise driving more secure, efficient and scalable food production and distribution.

As the organisers noted, the major three-day show will offer a keen focus on advanced processing and packaging, next-generation ingredients, robotics and automation, AI and digital manufacturing, traceability, cold chain and predictive planning.

There will be a number of technology focuses that explore how manufacturers can raise their performance in terms of  efficiency, output, as well as being more environmentally mindful.

Significantly, the event also includes its three-day Foodtec Summit, which will include speaking contributions from major confectionery, snacking and ingredients businesses, including Mars, Ferrero,  and Givaudan, plus equipment groups such as Buhler in the mix of a strong education programme. 

Mark Napier, Vice President, Gulfood Manufacturing, inD, believed that this year’s event would have a broad range of highlights.

He commented: “Strengthening food manufacturing capacity is fundamental to advancing the UAE’s food security and economic ambitions. A more capable and agile manufacturing base can support greater local production, attract investment, accelerate technology adoption and strengthen the supply chains underpinning the food economy.

“As a global trade and manufacturing hub, Dubai is uniquely positioned to connect regional manufacturers with international investors, technology providers and supply chain partners. Gulfood Manufacturing and its co-located platforms bring this wider ecosystem together, creating opportunities to forge partnerships, access new technologies and build the capabilities needed for the next phase of regional growth.”

• For additional exclusive content on this year’s Gulfood Manufacturing and ISM Middle East, see the next edition of Confectionery Production magazine