International product launches take centrestage at Gulfood 2007

As the hospitality, food and beverage sectors continue to undergo rapid growth throughout the region, propelled by Dubai's geographical strength and position as the third largest re-exporter in the world, Gulfood provides a strong opportunity for both new exhibitors looking to enter the Middle East market, as well as for returning companies seeking to further strengthen their foothold in the food industry.

'As the largest show of its kind in the region, attracting buyers from some of the fastest-growing markets in the world, Gulfood is a natural launch-pad for new products for the hospitality industry,' said Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of Gulfood.

Executives from Saudi Arabia's Al Madinah Dates Co. (Tomoor), who received a strong response at Gulfood last year, anticipate an even better outcome at this year's event. 'The company has participated in the last six editions of Gulfood and will continue to do so, as this provides us with the ability to reach a diverse range of customers from all over the world,' said Khalid I. Dawas, General Manager of Al Madinah Dates.

The company is set to extend its elite dates product line with the launch of Choco dates, Dates with Nuts and the Dessert Date Bar at this year's Gulfood. Al Madinah Dates is also using its recent ISO 9001:2000 certification, along with its HACCP certificate of merit, to demonstrate its high level of professionalism to international buyers.

COMEXA Foods from Colombia, a multinational supplier of Hot Sauces, also aims to use Gulfood 2007 as a springboard for a new range of products: hot sauces specially developed to suit the tastes of the Middle East market.

These new Latin American-influenced sauces have been blended to suit the preferred flavours of the region, adding a zing to food favourites like Shwarma, Kebabs and all varieties of Arabic cuisine.

Girogio Arauji, Director of Comexa Foods stated, 'Over the last 10 years, we have become a major supplier of ingredients to local hot sauce manufacturers. We feel that the time is right to introduce our unique range of sauce varieties in the region.'

Vivek Mehta, Director of COMEXA Foods Middle East added, 'The timing for our new product launch is perfect. The region is experiencing a rapid growth in population broadening an area that has always been a melting pot of cultures.'

COMEXA will be the first-large scale manufacturer to supply hot sauce in PET bottles, which are safer to handle than glass, lighter in weight, unbreakable and recyclable.

Gulfood presents the hospitality, food and beverage industry with an exclusive forum to market new products through interactive demonstrations, seminars and workshops. Throughout the exhibition, suppliers are conducting face-to-face business with thousands of potential investors and distributors from around the world.

Another group that will oversee a range of new launches is AFEHC, the representative of hospitality equipment exporting manufacturers in Spain. Among the companies exhibiting under the AFEHC banner is Gayc, who has launched a range of new vertical refrigerated displays for confectionery, lighted with LEDS.

Spanish manufacturer Sammic is presenting a new range of dishwashing machines with an exclusive 24h Service Portal, designed for specialists in the hospitality trade.

Gulfood is the largest and most important hospitality, food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East, Africa and Indian sub-continent. This year the event is showcasing manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from over 70 different countries across the world, and is expected to attract trade visitors from over 140 different countries.