Gulfood 2021, the first in-person global F&B event in almost a year, is expecting to deliver a complete range of business opportunities as it opened yesterday, (21 February) at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The show, which will run during five days, is welcoming 2,500 international food power brands demonstrating new-to-market innovations to capitalize on accelerated shifts in consumer patterns.
One of the safest and most competitive global food sourcing hubs of the year is reconnecting thousands of major players across the entire F&B ecosystem, from government delegations and trade ministers to forward-thinking manufacturers and major industry disruptors.
The show will serve as a way finder for the future of food across 20 exhibition halls engaging with thousands of global buyers looking to get their year off to a fast start and boost ‘new normal’ sales forecasts by accessing new product solutions to meet changing buying habits.
Running alongside the exhibition, the Gulfood Innovation Summit will deliver three days of thought-provoking conversations between the brightest minds in the business at the World Trade Centre Arena from 22 – 24 February.
With food security an ever-increasing issue, the Summit will open with a keynote address by Her Excellency Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food and Water Security, who will outline the UAE Food Security Strategy, which aims to establish the UAE’s top 10 ranking on the Global Food Security Index.
Her Excellency’s keynote will be followed by a session titled ‘Reaching 3 billion consumers’, examining how the UAE has navigated the challenges of the past 12 months to cement its strategic position in the global F&B supply chain. The high-profile panel includes Amadou Diallo, CEO, Middle East & Africa – DHL Global Forwarding; Dennis Lister, Vice President – Cargo Commercial Development – Emirates SkyCargo; Ahmad Al Haddad, Chief Operations Officer, DP World, UAE Region and Carlos Garcia, Partner, Middle East Customs and International Trade Leader – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Other key sessions throughout the three days of 30 hours of high-profile curated content include how food businesses can level up by tapping into platforms such as TikTok; food waste; retail disruption, with Andrey Dvoychenkov, Managing Director, Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan, Nielsen; destination dining, with José Silva, CEO – Jumeirah; and many more.
The Marketing Society Speaker Series will deliver more thought-provoking insights from some of the biggest names in the industry on Monday, 22 February. Peter DeBenedictis, CMO Microsoft – MEA, will discuss ‘Purpose Driven Marketing’; Beverly D’Cruz, chief brand officer – Pizza Hut, META, will analyze ‘Food and/or digital product launches which address consumer needs during/post Covid-19’. Mustafa Shamseldin, chief marketing officer – Africa, Middle East and South Asia – PepsiCo, will join a fireside chat with Maria Gedeon, director of sales & marketing, Majid Al Futtaim, to discuss the ‘Future of marketing and advertising food products.’
