(MENAFN - Arab News) Gulfood, claimed to be the world's biggest food and hospitality show, sealed its 19th year in Dubai last week.
The annual exhibition is famed to be a platform to combine the most important food companies and businesses from around the world like the GCC, the United States, Brazil, France, Italy, and North Africa.
The long-known event includes forums and conferences such as a global food leaders summit, franchising workshops, food inspection conference, and food processing and packaging forum. Additionally Gulfood provides side-activities that are supported by the exhibition like Gulfood cooking competition and professional networking opportunities through Gulfood Majlis, which is a premier networking club for the industry's most senior professionals.
Many Saudi companies for food were part of Gulfood exhibitors. Arab News had a brief discussion with Ali Jabak, export manager of Saudi-based Forsan Foods & Consumer Products about its participation in the exhibition. "This is our third year in a row to exhibit at Gulfood. It's the most important food exhibition in the region and is recognized to attract many industry experts, food-business entrepreneurs and visitors from around the world. The footfall for Gulfood is very high in rates and along our three years of being part of it, we were able to make some important deals and create beneficial collaborations for the company."
He added: "We are planning to expand our exhibit area in Gulfood next year to show more of extended product lines of Forsan. We are keen to be part of it because of the significant outcomes of business deals; thanks to Allah, we were able to achieve 80 percent of the set goals of exhibiting at Gulfood."
Jabak said: "Dairy items are Forsan's main line of products. The dairy products are well-distributed among all GCC countries and we have been able to reach other Middle East spots like Lebanon and Iraq - a major credit to Gulfood - in addition to some markets in North Africa such as Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. However, Saudi market is our largest in terms of distribution and brand recognition; we have branches in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Qasim, Khamis Mushayit and many more."
Gulfood Show 2014 will mark its 20th anniversary when it takes place from Feb. 23-27, 2014, at Dubai World Trade Center.
