Obesity, health key concerns of the 3rd Middle East Food Marketing Forum

Is the food industry part of the problem, or can it be part of the solution? The 3rd Middle East Food Marketing Forum, being held in Dubai from February 21 - 23 at the Dusit Dubai Hotel, hopes to answer these and other critical industry challenges, while identifying new opportunities for the sector.

The forum, organised by IIR Middle East, is being held in association with Gulfood, the 10th Middle East Food, Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire, the largest food and hospitality industry exhibition in the region. All forum delegates will receive VIP passes and transport to Gulfood 2005, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from February 20 - 23.

"By running the two events parallel in the commercial heart of the region, we are creating an ideal environment to discuss key issues in the food industry," said Helal Saeed Khalfan Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre, organisers of Gulfood. "The forum is certainly a unique and valuable networking and brainstorming opportunity for industry professionals in a region that is experiencing spectacular growth."

In recent years, the Middle East has become one of the most important food and drink regions in the world, mainly due to its high level of disposable income, huge volume of food and food-related imports, rising consumer numbers and cultural diversity. The region is home to more than 237 million consumers with a gross national product in excess of $1.4 trillion. Some countries reaching $28,000 per capita and more than 90 percent of the region's food and beverage needs are imported from overseas. Away-from-home food sales in the GCC countries alone account for an estimated $9.5 billion

But the market growth has brought with it significant nutrition and health problems; regional dietary habits are also changing, moving from traditional to international and the incidence of diabetes, obesity and other public health indicators are on the rise.

"Food marketers targeting Middle East customers are confronted with a growing consumer awareness lobby along with increasing worries about obesity," said Chris Mullinger, Forum Director. "There is little doubt that the question of obesity and related dietary and health problems is currently one of the big issues impacting the food industry worldwide.

"Dietary habits in the Middle East are changing and the forum will include both international and regional spotlights in a special debate, which will pose, among others, two critical questions: Is obesity a marketing issue and is the food industry part of the problem or part of the solution?"

Food marketers are also hoping to understand and respond to other emerging trends, such as the growing importance of the Arab Gulf female consumer, and tough new markets emerging within the difficult and highly competitive regional food market. The forum's association with Gulfood will enable delegates to experience a combination of theory and practice at the same time.

Some of the forum's highlights include the keynote opening address 'Innovate Before It's Too Late' from forum chairman Bryan Urbick, Director of Research at the Consumer Knowledge Centre and KidsLink Research Centre in the United Kingdom.

"Innovation is critical, yet proves to be a difficult subject for food and beverage companies. Consumer demand for quality, convenience, and great taste is high, but so is their demand for competitive pricing - and these requirements seem at odds with each other," said Mr. Urbick.

"Another topic that needs to be tackled is kids and their food habits. This is an important subject to understand as it sheds light on a number of issues vital to the food and beverage industry, including new product development, brand and food marketing, promotion and the issue of obesity."

The forum will also entail studies on brand building, international trends in the food and beverage sector; a special day-long session on the challenge of obesity, one day dedicated to public issues including consumer protection, halal perspectives and how to promote the Gulf's dairy industry.

The forum is traditionally attended by industry experts from a variety of disciplines, from managing directors to regional managers, marketing and promotions specialists, media managers, retailers, nutritionists and business development executives.