Gulfood 2006, the 11th Food, Drink, Foodservices and Hotel Equipment Exhibition, hosted for the last four days at Dubai International Convention and Exhibitions Centre, has recorded an all time high in the level of transactions and business activity, say both Organiser and exhibitors.
E.D.A.M., a UAE company specialising in meat products, claimed great success with over AED 7.3 million in deals completed at Gulfood, with buyers from Canada, Australia and the Czech Republic. Equipment manufacturers and distributors have also been realising excellent business growth from the event.
“I am a six-time exhibitor at Gulfood and have had another successful year with two deals signed on the third day worth a total of AED 2 million,” said Waiel Mansoor, Owner of Jackson Vending, a UAE company specialising in vending and coffee machines.
From the trade visitor perspective a commentator said, “I was driving home to downtown Chicago on Wednesday (15th Feb) when I had a call from my client saying I should go to Dubai to check out Gulfood. 72 hours later I was here,” said Thomas P. McNeely, Stevenson & Company, Illinois.
“I am here as a Mergers and Acquisitions financial advisor looking for opportunities, for my client – a Halal Foodstuffs Producer – for joint ventures in the region. With no prior knowledge of Dubai and what to expect I have been exceptionally pleased to have had a number of excellent high-level discussions with serious companies,” added McNeely.
Gulfood’s popularity and success has been proven by its consistent expansion and development and this year it has more than exceeded its objectives of attracting over 30,000 trade buyers. Organiser, Dubai World Trade Centre, has announced that final figures will be released shortly.
The increase in the number of trade visitors have come from new countries – totalling over 135 – including Tonga, Zambia, Malta, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Botswana, Estonia and the Bahamas. New exhibitors to Gulfood 2006 also claimed the event was a great success.
“We are proud to be the first and only Palestinian company at Gulfood 2006. Our participation at Gulfood has exceptionally successful, and through it we were able to meet several companies interested in distributing and marketing our products in the region,” said Ziad Anabtawi, Chairman, Al ‘Ard for Extra Virgin Olive Oil, part of the Anabtawi Group, Palestine.
Companies such as Desmon/ABT Metal and Rational have doubled their floor space for 2007 in order to keep pace with the growth of business generated at Gulfood with Sadia and National Food Industries even tripling their floor space. In fact, the Organiser reported that 75% of the existing show has already been re-booked for next year.
In response to the phenomenal demand from industry, Gulfood 2007 will expand by 10,000 square metres to provide a bigger platform for buyers and sellers to conduct business. Helal Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre explains:
“It is unprecedented for an exhibition to go from a biennial to an annual format and actually experience an increase in floorspace and demand from companies, in comparison to the previous event. We are proud that Gulfood has made this achievement and are extremely confident that with more exciting plans ahead companies will realise even greater success in 2007.”
Gulfood 2006 - The 11th Gulf Food, Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire, will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 19 – 22 February 2006. The opening hours are 11.00 to 19.00 on the 19 – 21 February, and 11.00 to 17.00 on the 22 February.
Gulfood is strictly a trade-only event and is open for business and trade visitors only, proof of which must be provided at registration. General public and children are not allowed into the exhibition.
About Gulfood
www.gulfood.com
Since 1987, Gulfood has been considered the Middle East’s and Africa’s primary business platform for food, drink, foodservice and hospitality equipment. The exhibition is a showcase of manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from around the world, representing all of the key sectors within food and hospitality.
In 2005, the 10th Gulf Food, Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire brought together 1,730 companies from 59 countries and featured 36 national pavilions. The show attracted 29,100 visitors from 127 countries including buying delegations from as far as Azerbaijan, India, Iraq, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia and the UK.
The Emirates International Salon Culinaire, organised by The Emirates Culinary Guild, held alongside Gulfood 2005, featured seminars, culinary competitions and demonstrations involving 850 international chefs.
Gulfood 2006 is set to build on the 73% growth of exhibition space experienced at Gulfood 2005.
About Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
www.dwtc.com
As the organiser of Gulfood 2006, Dubai World Trade Centre offers over 25 years’ experience of delivering world-class events in the Middle East, providing local, regional and international exhibitors with unmatched expertise and in-depth market knowledge. Our team organises 12 of the largest and most successful international and regional shows in Middle East, providing an strategic platform for business development in the region.
Our commitment to ongoing innovation within the exhibition industry has supported the rapid growth and development of a wide range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer shows, and delivered consistent satisfaction to exhibitors and visitors. DWTC works with leading trade bodies and industry associations to ensure that all exhibitions deliver full value and are built upon the real needs of their specific sector.
