Food Business Gulf & Middle East (January-March 2015)

ISSN 1755-0939

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN F&B INDUSTRY TURN TO PAGES 60-61

2015 EDITION BOOTH NO. CCZ-112

57

Editor Matt Matthews

62

Associate Editors Jessie Jorge Andrew Thomas Sub Editor Megha Marie Matt Graphic Designer Aleena Susan John Sales Manager Paul Thomas Production Manager Abdul Shareef Contributors Neville J. Chandler P.K. James Shakeeb Kolakadan Head Office Matt Media International Ltd. Woodgreen, London N22 5AR, UK E-mail: gulfag@emirates.net.ae Web site: www.foodbusinessgulf.com

Middle East Office Al Saad Advertising & Publishing LLC. P O Box 25694, Sharjah, UAE Tel:+971 6 5639494 Fax:+971 6 5639449 E-mail: gulfag@emirates.net.ae Food Business Gulf & Middle East is designed to serve the fast growing Food, Fresh Produce, Ingredients, Bakery, Hotel, Hypermarkets, Restaurants & Catering industries in the Gulf and Middle East region by providing the expert information to our readers in our four comprehensive issues in a year. It is circulated through out Middle East region and world wide in addition to the extra distribution at various food, catering & hotel events, fresh and perishable shows. The magazine provides editorial coverage on a wide range of topics which are of interest to industry professionals.

NEWS GULFOOD PREVIEW GULFOOD MANUFACTURING REVIEW SIAL MIDDLE EAST REVIEW WOP DUBAI REVIEW HALAL MIDDLE EAST REVIEW SWEETS & SNACKS MIDDLE EAST REVIEW SAUCE AND CONDIMENTS FOOD CONSULTANCIES STABILISERS PACKAGING STARCH SOLUTIONS US UPDATE DENMARK UPDATE TURKEY UPDATE UAE UPDATE GERMAN UPDATE COLOMBIA UPDATE ARGENTINA UPDATE

PAGE 04 PAGE 30 PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE

38 46 50 52

PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE

54 57 60 62 64 65 66 68 70 72 74 77 78

64

65

Cover photo courtesy: Lee Kum Kee

66

72

Food Business Gulf & Middle East is a sister publication of Gulf Agriculture.

Printed & published by Matt MediaŠ Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2015

68 JANUARY-MARCH 2015

MEET

GulfoUoS @ d Dubai 20 15

The secret of any good recipe.

STAND NUMB ER HALL: CONC : CC2-31 OURS E1

TRASIMENO S.p.A. Via Ardeatina km 28,800 - Tenuta di Campoleone APRILIA (LT) - ITALY - www.oliotrasimeno.com For further info please contact sales agent: Burhan Company for General Trading & Commercial Agencies / LTD Kawa St. Cigarette Market Office Number: 17 & 29 Sulaimaniyah / IRAQ Tel : 00964533201183 Mob.: 009647501355904 companyburhan@gmail.com

NEWS

4

Anugafoodtec & Cibustec to join Africa's Big Seven Top European Food Fair Organisers Join AB7: Southern Africa's strong growth potential has motivated two of Europe's biggest exhibition giants - Kรถlnmesse and Fiere di Parma together with Senaf-Techniche Nuove Group - to organise an Italian Pavilion at the 2015 edition of Africa's Big Seven (AB7), the continent's largest food and beverage trade exhibition. The companies will be featuring two of Europe's best known food expo brands, Anugafoodtec and Cibustec, at the world-renowned AB7 food and beverage trade exhibition in 2015.

The expo takes place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, from June 21-23, 2015. The inaugural Italian Pavilion at AB7 2015 is a prelude to the European/South African consortium organising a yearly food industry event in the region from 2016. Kรถlnmesse and Fiere di Parma have a long history of cooperating in joint projects to promote agribusiness around the world. Following extensive success in China, Japan and Thailand they are now focusing on promoting food technologies in African markets.

A Growing Economy for South Africa: South Africa, the premier gateway to sub-Saharan markets, has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, particularly after joining the 'BRICS' bloc countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2010. The country boasts one of the highest growth rates in Africa, and a population of over 54 million with over 60% under the age of 30. More than 10 million people can be classified as 'high-

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

end' consumers. AB7 offers an incomparable springboard into the rest of Africa. The Southern African region combines 14 countries with over 150 million inhabitants. These nations enjoy an active free trade agreement for goods under the ambit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It is the best structured internal trade organisation in Africa, representing 20% of the continent's population and 75% of its GDP. The food & beverage Industries in Africa have an ongoing need for systems, technologies and know-how for processing and production of raw materials.

AB7 is a consolidated seven-in-one trade fair organised by Exhibition Management Services (EMS), one of the most active independent exhibition organisers in Africa.

AB7 Offers Major Opportunities for International Exhibitors: AB7 provides significant market knowledge, networking and trade opportunities in the region. The establishment of an Italian Pavilion at AB7 along with the EMS European partner Senaf Tecniche Nuove Group, a major Italian exhibition organiser with over 35 years' experience, heralds a unique opportunity to showcase the Italian agri-food industry on the African continent.

Africa's Big Seven, now in its 13th edition, brings together seven specialist sections dedicated to the entire food and beverage supply chain, from raw materials to finished products, from machines to food and wine. The 2014 expo attracted 225 exhibitors from 35 countries and brought almost 9 000 visitors from 44 different nations. The AB7 exhibition is sponsored by the City of Johannesburg, the Restaurant Association of South Africa, The

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

6

Foundation for the Development of Africa, the South African National Bottled Water Association, Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa and the South African National Halaal Authority.

Knowledgeshare live in Dubai — international forum to address global beverage challenges KNOWLEDGEshare is a beverage industry forum comprising a digital community of senior industry players and thought leaders. In association with Sidel, KNOWLEDGEshare Live takes these discussions from online to the stage and will take place in Dubai, 10 - 11 February, 2015, providing a neutral setting to discuss where the beverage industry is heading and how it will handle the challenges and opportunities, both today and tomorrow.

Beverage producers from all over the world serve the markets of different countries, often under quite different circumstances. Still, there

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

is a degree of similarity in many of the issues that they face. Product safety, national and international standards, advances in technology, sustainability and changing consumer demand are among the challenges common to beverage producers and bottlers.

KNOWLEDGEshare Live 2015 in Dubai will be the third staging of this growing and successful event intended to encourage dialogue within the industry. The aim of this dialogue is to pool the knowledge, experience, opinions and ideas on how the beverage industry tackles its common challenges. As the host, Sidel believes that addressing these challenges with a collaborative, industry-wide approach will prove much more effective than trying to do so in isolation. Participants will benefit from the collective knowledge of the event's high-level speakers, industry experts and fellow invitees.

The established format is a departure from the more conventional approach of conferences

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

8

NEWS

and exhibitions where delegates tend to listen to appointed speakers in a largely one-way communication.

The objective is to provide a forum of mutual cooperation, in which the real issues that the industry is facing can be openly and frankly discussed.

The two days in Dubai, at the centrally located Conrad Hotel, will feature keynote presentations, thoughtprovoking panel discussions, as well as, most importantly, the opportunity for all delegates to get involved and make an active contribution to the dialogue. Before and after the event in Dubai, the experts will share their knowledge and opinions online at blog.knowledgeshare.com where everyone is welcome to join in the discussions. This blog is a platform that provides opportunities to continue the ongoing discussions between the KNOWLEDGEshare Live events.

The Dubai event will build on the success of previous KNOWLEDGEshare Live events, staged in Frankfurt, Germany, and Sanya, China, in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Attendance over the two-day forum is again by invitation only and will bring together decision-makers and influencers from all parts of the supply chain to discuss the common issues that they are all facing.

President and CEO of the Sidel Group, Mart Tiismann, says: “In the Greater Middle East and Africa producers are facing some core challenges shared by those in many other parts of the world. These issues are too important to be tackled anywhere on an individual or local basis. That is why it is vital that the whole industry has a way of getting together to discuss the pressing issues of the day in a collaborative forum. KNOWLEDGEshare Live in Dubai 2015, the latest in this series of events, will provide that forum.”

Sweden's Bluewater launches first Asian Flagship store opening in Beijing Bluewater™, a global industry leader in water purifying technologies, has debuted the brand's flagship 'Blue House' store-in-store presence in Beijing, the Chinese capital. Located in the Easyhome store, 5-510, No. 65, Beisihuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the Blue House is the first Bluewater flagship retail environment in Asia, which the brand will share with its air-purifying sister company, Blueair.

“We are very excited and honored to be partnering in the Blue House venture with Euroidea, a leading Chinese household appliance's company, to make Europe's premium residential and light commercial water purification technologies available to Chinese consumers,” says Niclas Wullt, Managing Director of BlueBlue AB, the Swedish company owning the Bluewater brand.

Mr. Wullt added: “As a global brand, Bluewater serves healthier drinking water to homeowners as well as business operators in the restaurant, catering and other FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

sectors in Europe, the USA and Asia, and there is no better place than Beijing to now showcase our international brand message.”

Euroidea focuses on importing iconic western brands such as SMEG, CUCINE, AEG, Miele, VIKING, Speed Queen, KitchenAid and now Bluewater into China. Founded in 1992, with headquarters in Beijing, Euroidea today has 10 offices, 30 dealers and 70 showrooms in most major cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Chengdu.

“EUROIDEA has been a front-runner in bringing Chinese consumers premium style, quality and service; and over 200 real estate projects have favored our solutions. Bluewater's premium water purifiers more than match our expectations when it comes to quality and performance and we are proud to be associated with the brand,” said James Ge, Euroidea founder and president.

Bluewater's SuperiorOsmosis™ addresses

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

9

consumer fears about the quality of their tap water by efficiently cleaning it of toxins, chlorine, bacteria and viruses, salt, heavy metals, nitrates and fluoride, hard water, arsenic, and poor taste and smell. Innovated, designed and made in Swede, Bluewater's exciting technology generates pristine clean water on demand 24 hours a day using little energy and slashing the water wastage commonly associated with traditional reverse osmosis systems.

“It's an exciting time for Bluewater, which has seen extraordinary international growth since its launch just over one year ago,” Mr. Wullt added. “Leveraging the strength of our patented SuperiorOsmosis™ technology that dramatically slashes the amount of water wasted by traditional water purifying reverse osmosis systems, Bluewater is ready to build on our success and accelerate our growth in key markets like the People's Republic of China and the United States.”

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

NEWS

10

With over 500 square feet (50 sq. meters), the flagship store-in-store gives Bluewater the opportunity to feature our full range of groundbreaking water purification offerings, including the very powerful, yet compact direct-flow Pro that is suitable for commercial and residential purposes.

“We fully anticipate that the new Beijing retail environment will enhance both consumer and professional appreciation for the Bluewater brand on a large scale,” said Wullt.

Sold in major markets around the world, Bluewater SuperiorOsmosis ™ patented technology delivers on-demand cleaner, healthier water direct from the tap. Innovated with love in Sweden, Bluewater water purifiers improve user quality of life, health and wellbeing by removing practically all known contamination from drinking water, including micro-organisms, pesticides, heavy metals and toxins. Bluewater™ is the registered trademark of Blueblue AB, a company registered Sweden.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

Clondalkin specialist packaging to be acquired by Essentra plc Essentra plc (“Essentra” or “the Company”) has today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Clondalkin Group's Specialist Packaging Division (“Clondalkin SPD”) for a cash consideration of approximately US$455m. This transaction — which is expected to complete in Q1 2015 and represents Essentra's largest acquisition to date — significantly extends the Company's existing packaging capabilities and creates a global value proposition to serve its customers.

With 24 strategically located facilities, Clondalkin SPD is a leading global provider of a broad suite of speciality secondary packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical and health & personal care industries, and will transform Essentra's position in these endmarkets. As a leading player in North America, and with strong market positions in Europe, Clondalkin SPD's range of technologies and capabilities support the high

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

product quality and the versatility to deliver the complex solutions required.

The acquisition of Clondalkin SPD is consistent with Essentra's strategy of complementing balanced, profitable organic growth with valueadding acquisitions in its targeted end-markets.

The addition of Clondalkin SPD significantly enhances Essentra's existing geographic presence in healthcare packaging and, through leveraging the combined footprint of both businesses, will allow the Company to further exploit both existing, and attractive new growth opportunities. In addition, Clondalkin SPD's product portfolio of folding carton, product literature and labels is complementary to Essentra's current packaging and authentication capabilities, thereby broadening the range and innovation offered to customers.

FOOD freshly opens new Dubai subsidiary as expansion into new markets continues FOOD freshly, the international fresh produce preservation specialist, has launched a new subsidiary in Dubai to bring its innovative 3-PPP Concept© for food hygiene to the UAE and the Middle East market.

Supported by a dedicated sales executive and local warehouse facilities, FOOD freshly Dubai will market its freshness retainer formulations and Fruit Cleaner Antiox®, along with other related dosing and measuring equipment services.

FOOD freshly will also debut its 3-PPP concept for pre-sanitising, process water disinfection and preservation in the Middle East and Dubai

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

11

Sukhdev Singh, managing director of FOOD freshly, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for Dubai and Middle East based clients to adopt our newly developed 3-PPP Concept©, which is based on our PWAM© Process Water Analysis Method.

“Under this concept, we provide an innovative, hygienic system. One of the biggest benefits for companies using our system is a saving in water and energy costs as water does not have to be discarded after just one wash.”

At the same time, FOOD freshly, which exhibited at the recent WOP Dubai trade show, has confirmed the official signing of the biggest order in its history from a UAE based company.

During the trade event, FOOD freshly's managing director was proud to display official US and EU patent lawyer certification to the press, demonstrating that the company in no way infringes the patent rights of any existing competitors in the EU, North America, Australia, Japan or Hong Kong.

Following the opening of the Dubai branch, Singh also announced the opening of a new FOOD freshly India subsidiary, with a head office in New Delhi and distribution centres in all major cities.

In addition to the Dubai subsidiary, FOOD freshly opened a new branch in the UK on 3 November at an event in London's Borough Market, which came only days after the launch of the FOOD freshly Ireland office on 30 October at the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce in Dublin.

The company, which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its establishment in Germany next month, already works with some of the

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

NEWS

12

largest fresh-cut and herb specialists in 23 countries worldwide.

Singh said: “We already have some clients in the UK, but now FOOD freshly UK & Ireland will have an office in London and in Dublin.

We are taking these expansion steps to provide better local service to our existing and new clients.�

FOOD freshly's technology has been developed over two decades to extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut produce of almost any type or variety using a dipping solution of one of its 30 different mineral and vitamin formulations.

ISO 22000 and HACCP certified, FOOD freshly's patented technology is recognised by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), as well as by the European Patent Office.

The product is so effective that cut apples can be packaged in resealable sachets and kept in the refrigerator for 21-28 days without browning.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

FOOD freshly also develops formulations to pre-sanitise produce before it is dipped. The formulae for the powder that is supplied to clients for dissolution in water and use at the processing plant is developed based on analysis of water samples provided by the clients themselves.

Sharjah, Jordan set to strengthen MICE ties Looking at enhancing trade ties with the UAE, Jordan is exploring possibilities of strengthening its participation in trade shows being organised

by Expo Centre Sharjah.

A meeting held on the sidelines of the ongoing 3rd OIC Halal Middle East Exhibition & Congress and the 2nd Kitchen Equipment & Technology Exhibition Middle East at Expo Centre Sharjah on Tuesday (Dec 09), officials from both sides discussed ways and means to boost the already strong trade relations between the countries.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

Tomato Paste & Fruit Puree.

P&J for Juice and Paste Company S.A.E. Factories: 4WK ,QGXVWULDO =RQH ă 6DGDW &LW\ ă (J\SW THO ă Fax: +20 48 260-1095 WBHONDWWDQ#SDVWH MXLFH FRP

Cairo Office: $EG (O 0RQHLP 5L\DG 6WUHHW ă 0RKDQGHVVLQ ă *L]D ă (J\SW THO ă Fax: +202 344-0313 PDKPRXGBVD\HO#SDVWH MXLFH FRP

OHSAS 18001

ISO 22000

REGISTERED

7(.1,.$ &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 㠋 3DVWH -XLFH &R ă $OO ULJKWV rHVHUYHG

Paste & Juice Co.

Egypt’s #1 Producer and World Supplier of All Natural

NEWS

14

Held under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the three-day event concluded on Wednesday (Dec 10).

The Sharjah side was led by Mr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, while the Jordan side was represented

by Mr. Nael Al Kabariti, Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and accompanying delegation.

The visiting side also expressed their desire to open new trade channels between Jordan and Sharjah, while stressing on the contribution of the Jordanian community in the development of the UAE. “Sharjah has many successful projects that are conducive for investment for Jordan investors... In recent years, we have seen an increase in bilateral trade between our countries. We see great opportunities to enhance trade, and by boosting cooperation and coordination, I am sure we can better help business communities from both sides to tap into mutual investment and trade opportunities,” said Midfa.

In the context of the ongoing trade event, Mr. Midfa pointed out that the Jordanian side has much to gain, and can play an important role in the growth of the regional halal industry.

By participating in Halal Middle East, they can also effectively present their products & services and target the regional market, he added.

On his part, Mr. Kabariti said the meeting was fruitful. “We discussed many topics that

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

will encourage investment and promote trade exchanges. We also discussed the possibility of exchanging visits and increasing the presence of Jordanian exhibitors in Expo Centre events,” he said.

The trade fairs at Expo Centre Sharjah will give Jordanian business community an excellent opportunity to gauge the requirements of the regional market, to explore avenues of cooperation, joint ventures and open new marketing & trade channels.The two sides also exchanged commemorative shields at the end of the meeting.

Exhibitors from Jordan have taken part in the Halal show, which also had participation from several other countries, apart from pavilions from Thailand, South Africa, China, Russia, Iran and the Philippines.

Laser labelling to be available worldwide European fruit laser labelling specialist Laser Food has announced the signing of a marketing agreement with U.S.-based JBT Corporation, which will expand the availability of the company's cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to traditional fruit labels.

Under the terms of the agreement, JBT Corporation, with sales in more than 100 countries, will build and market Laser Food's Laser Mark labelling system, making the etching technology available to fruit producers worldwide.

In addition, the agreement enables the labelling machines to be built closer to major fruit production markets.

Laser Food managing director, Jaime

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

16

Sanfelix, said: “Through the agreement, this advanced technology will become accessible to fruit growers worldwide with local support from JBT.” Under the agreement, JBT Corporation will market Laser Food's Laser Mark™ technology world-wide with the exception of some countries where Laser Food is already selling.

U.S.-based JBT Corporation is a leading global supplier of integrated solutions for the food processing industry.

Amongst other services, the company is a prime solution and equipment provider within the fruit and vegetable industry.

From preparation to preservation, conveying and packaging, JBT Corporation has a comprehensive range of technologies that capture the freshness, taste, texture, appearance and nutritional value of fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products.

JBT maintains a worldwide presence with operations or offices in more than 25

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

countries, providing a global research and development, sourcing, manufacturing, and sales and service network.

Investment in ISBM Technology RPC Containers Corby has invested in new ISBM (Injection Stretch Blow Moulding) technology that enables it to offer its established high barrier PP/EVOH/PP containers with even greater transparency.

The company says this technology opens up opportunities in the retail sector, in particular markets such as cook-in sauces, instant coffee, ready meals, fruits and baby foods, producing packs that deliver high clarity for a premium on-shelf image along with the practical, convenience and safety benefits of plastic.

Equally important, the substantially lighter weight of the plastic jars will help retailers and brand owners meet sustainability targets in terms of packaging and carbon emission reductions.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

The development of a special new manufacturing process has allowed RPC Corby to produce containers that incorporate its effective EVOH oxygen barrier for long ambient shelf life, while delivering excellent clarity.

The containers are thermally stable to temperatures in excess of 100°C for effective pasteurisation and sterilisation.

A number of popular retail jar sizes are being developed with additional sizes planned for the future. Caps are supplied by RPC Halstead.

Ecolean enters South America with Alquería in Colombia Dairy market leader Alquería in Colombia has recently launched one of its milk products in Ecolean's Air Aseptic packaging solutions.

Alquería is also one of the first customers to introduce Ecolean's innovative reclosing device SnapQuick. The launch marks Ecolean's entry into South America and the Colombian market.

As one of Colombia's premier producers of dairy products, Alquería has a proud history of being at the forefront of technological innovation.

Alquería has labelled the new Ecolean package “Practijarra”, meaning the “practical jug” to emphasize the convenience of the package.

“Alquería Dairy is known for driving innovation, and the new Ecolean SnapQuick packaging format fits perfectly in our product portfolio. We couldn't be happier with the introduction; the package has been well received as it suits our consumers and makes it more practical and fun to consume milk”, says Carlos Enrique Cavelier Lozano, CEO of Alquería S.A. The Colombian dairy and beverage market is one of South America's most dynamic markets, and it is expected to grow more than 15 per cent in the next five years according to consumer market research company Canadean. With its nearly fifty million consumers, Colombia has the second largest population on the continent and is increasingly open to new products and packaging solutions.

Barry Callebaut : La Morella nuts offers more crunch and flavor with the new generation of sablages La Morella nuts, nut specialist acquired by the Barry Callebaut Group in 2012, presents a whole new range of high-quality caramelized nuts for the food industry in Europe. The new sablages are the result of a continuous effort of the team of

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

17

18

NEWS

specialists at la Morella nuts to add new and exciting products to its already wide variety of nuts and nut-related products.

Thanks to that expertise customers of Barry Callebaut can now choose from an even wider selection of products, adding new creative possibilities.

La Morella nuts, located in Reus, Spain, proudly presents new variations of its sablages. These mildly roasted chopped nuts, coated with a fine and crispy layer of sugar caramel add color and crunch to any food creation. They can be used as an inclusion or a topping for ice cream or bakery and confectionery applications. The new range includes pink and green almond sablages, as well as a variation with vanilla and cinnamon taste. Completing the range are the new butter and salt almonds or pecan sablages.

"Based on the latest insights, trends and novelties a team of specialists at la Morella nuts continuously develops new nut-related products that capture the very best that nature has to offer," says Sofie De Lathouwer, Marketing Director FM Western Europe. "Thanks to these developments we can constantly offer new and exciting products that trigger the creativity of chefs all over the world."

La Morella nuts is continuously extending its line of nut-related products with wonderful flavors, exciting colors, amazing crunch and unexpected combinations. The nut expert is mainly stocked up on hazelnuts and almonds by local nut growers. These local varieties provide an extremely high quality and intense flavor. Besides locally grown Spanish nuts, the company's current offering also includes Piemonte hazelnuts from Italy and premium Californian almonds, as well as pistachios, pecans, cashew nuts, walnuts and many other varieties expertly selected and sourced from cooperatives all over the world.

La Morella nuts ensures that all nuts are freshly cracked following the specific client-order. In fact, all nuts are processed freshly within 24 hours before delivery. To achieve this result, la Morella nuts works closely together with a fine selection of

local nut orchards and suppliers. The nut growers pick up the nuts from the ground immediately after they have fallen from the trees. Then they bring them to collection centers where they are stored under the best conditions, in their shell.

Local nut groves in close proximity to the factory ensure freshly cracked nuts, with their true, natural flavors preserved. The unique nut roasting process technology, developed by la Morella nuts, releases all the flavors of the nuts. As a result, Barry Callebaut can offer nuts that reveal more fruitiness, less sweetness and above all, are of an unrivalled freshness. When a nut has all that, it has earned the label "la Morella nuts".

Flexsil-lid promoting Australian ingenuity globally After successfully winning “Best Innovation at Gulfood Awards 2011” held in Dubai, Australian invented & NSF approved “Flexsil-lid” has continued to impress the world with its innovative product at NRA Show in Chicago and other shows around the world.

“The interest is overwhelming from Chefs & Restaurants who feel Flexsil-lid is a great product for their business. Not only from the functionality of the product but also from the food safety & environmental aspect”, said Albert David, the inventor of Flexsil-lid.

Flexsil-lid is listed on the new 'Safe Food Healthy Business' App as a strong alternative to storing food securely and safely “and does not allow any contamination when cooking or storing”, as stated on SFHB Facebook page.

Made from Food Grade silicon and using its patented 'lip-lock' design, the Flexsil-lid is designed to fit all standard Gastronorms & steam pans, covering the contents to maintain freshness longer or speed up the cooking time. This is achieved by trapping the heat, acting as an incubator.

Designed to withstand temperatures down to -40°C and up to 220°C, this environmentally friendly and hygienic product eliminates the use of excessive

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

20

amounts of 'plastic' film wrap to keep food fresh or 'foil' to cook with.

Being a re-usable product, the Flexsil-Lid is dishwasher safe and can be used many times over.

For more info, please visit www.flexsillid.com or contact Phillip David at sales@flexsillid.com or by phone on +61 412 869 566.

Bühler leads discussion on food safety, security and nutrition The Bühler Group, a global technology partner for the food processing industry, brought together a team of leading international experts to the Gulfood Manufacturing Exhibition 2014.

There they discussed the increasingly central role of pulses in ensuring the future of global nutrition, as well as addressing key industry issues, including food safety and security.

As part of the discussion, a team of leading experts revealed the potential for pulses and their growing importance in the western world where there is currently a

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

limited awareness of the high nutritional value and low environmental footprint of pulses - which includes dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and many other dry beans belonging to the leguminous crop.

Speaking at the symposium at Gulfood, Hakan Bahceci, President of the Global Pulse Confederation (CICILS) endorsed Bühler's commitment, acknowledging the impact pulse crops has on food security and environmental sustainability. “In 2013, we worked with member nations at the UN to have 2016 declared the International Year of Pulses (IYOP).

The IYOP has the goal of raising the profile of beans, chickpeas, lentils and all other pulses around the globe. As members of the pulse industry, we know that pulses have immense benefits for consumers in developed and developing countries. It is also an opportunity to increase the awareness of issues faced by pulse farmers around the globe, and draw attention and resources to key areas of activity

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

22

NEWS

and research aimed at improving pulse productivity worldwide.

“It is wonderful to see the work Bühler is doing in the area of sustainability and nutrition to support this effort. We are encouraged to see our partners in the value chain taking action on such an important global issue. The sustainability benefits of pulses are plentiful.

We believe that the IYOP is not only an opportunity to benefit us in the pulse industry, but advance the benefits of pulses to address worldwide issues of food security, nutrition and environmental sustainability.”

Dr. Beatrice Conde-Petit, Global food scientist and technologist for Bühler added, “The growing interest of the wider food industry to include pulses in new food formulations is opening up a vast range of processing opportunities for this valuable crop.

Pulses can be transformed into flour and be processed with other ingredients to deliver, for example, pasta-style products, baked goods, extruded snacks and breakfast cereals. As consumer awareness increases for this food

group, the up-take of pulses within food products will grow rapidly supported by pioneering processing technology. With many food multi-nationals around the world already effectively working towards utilisation of pulses in their products, we look forward to the transformation 2016 and the IYOP will bring to this underused food group.”

Bühler is committed to innovations in pulses processing, as highlighted by pulse processing specialist Prasad Jaripatke, who addressed recent market trends and challenges in food sustainability as well as Bühler's vision to deliver increases in yield, safety and hygiene.

Prasad, Bühler's Head of Pulses, Spices and Seasame Segment, also shared the company's vision for innovation across the value chain from post-harvest to consumer plate. “We can help pulse processors reduce food waste and energy consumption with smarter, more efficient processing technology that achieves higher yields and productivity.

“We recognise that hygienic processing is vital, along with gentle handling, to ensure

NEWS

24

optimum product quality that is free from impurities, uniform in size and colour and meets stringent food safety standards. Through industry collaborations, we will develop processes that can deliver a range of new pulse products, combining ingredients and textures that appeal to consumers in specific markets.”

Bühler's capabilities for leveraging the value of pulses and pulse by-products, through postharvest stabilisation, cleaning, dehulling, sorting and further food processing were also addressed during the symposium, highlighting the opportunities for healthy food meeting both local tastes and cultural requirements. It continues to proactively develop new technologies for processing pulses and pulse based products, in order to address the growing demands from processors and consumers alike and in support of the IYOP. An example of such developments include the incorporation of the hull of pulses (otherwise a waste product) in conventional foods like pasta or baked products to supplement dietary fibre.

The ingredients of Ethnic Foods Europe Ethnic Foods Europe is Europe's specialist ethnic food and beverage exhibition. As the ultimate platform for networking, attendees can find innovative and authentic recipes, taste healthy and delicious foods, and be informed on the latest market developments for Asian, Arab, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Turkish, North African, Middle Eastern, Afro-Caribbean and other world foods.

The event brings together professionals from all areas of the food industry, including

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

wholesale, catering, food service, large and small ethnic food distributors, retailers, hotel chains, and multiple sector management members, all searching for the next big thing in food products to suit their business needs.

Wyndham Hotel Group Grows Ramada Brand with 20 Hotels in the UK Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,590 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), announced the signing of a development agreement with Lester Hotels Group Limited, which will see 20 Ramada® hotels open across the UK over the next ten years.

The first two hotels, Ramada Resort Cwrt Bleddyn and Ramada Leicester Stage, are expected to begin welcoming guests from soon, taking the number of Ramada properties open across the country to 40. A third hotel, in Finchley, north London, is already planned to open next year as part of the deal, which also saw the licence agreement for the existing Ramada Hatfield hotel renewed for a further 20 years.

All properties will be managed by Lester Hotels, who become a preferred management partner for Wyndham Hotel Group in the country.

“We look forward to working with Lester Hotels Group Limited to aggressively accelerate the growth of the iconic Ramada brand in the UK,” said Nima Davoodzadeh, vice president of development, UK and Europe for Wyndham Hotel Group. “With a 60 year heritage that

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

has seen the brand grow to over 820 locations across more than 50 countries, Ramada offers guests a welcoming environment for work or rest, as well as significant development potential for owners looking for a renowned brand, award-winning marketing and an extensive global distribution system.”

Nestled in the picturesque Monmouthshire countryside, the 45-bedroom Ramada Resort Cwrt Bleddyn, in Usk, Wales, offers complementary Wi-Fi, a fitness centre, indoor pool, luxury spa and treatment rooms as well as function rooms including the hotel's Crystal Suite catering for up to 200 guests. Ramada Leicester Stage offers 79 standard and executive rooms, five meeting rooms, indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre as well as food and beverage outlets including the Lester's Bar and Restaurant.

“We are delighted to extend our association with Wyndham Hotel Group and become a preferred management partner and have already developed an excellent working

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

25

relationship with their UK team,” commented Simon Lester, chief executive officer and chairman, Lester Hotels Management Services Limited. “The diversity and appeal of the Ramada brand in the UK perfectly complements both our own portfolio and a number of current opportunities and we look forward to opening more Wyndham Hotel Group branded properties in the UK over the next few years.”

In addition to the Lester Hotels development agreement, 2014 has seen Wyndham Hotel Group take over the management of Ramada Encore Leicester and extend the brand's franchised presence with a new hotel in Oxford. Additional Ramada properties are anticipated to open in Wakefield and Hounslow before year end. This year marks the Ramada brand's 60th anniversary.

All Ramada hotels in the country participate in Wyndham Rewards®, parent company Wyndham Hotel Group's free-to-join guest loyalty programme, which allows members to earn valuable points during their stay. Points

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

NEWS

26

may be redeemed for a wide variety of reward options including free hotel stays, air travel, gift cards for leading retailers and more.

Information is available at www.wyndhamrewards.com.

New supercomputer lifts GEA to another league in drying simulations A new supercomputer - an HPC cluster with 512 cores, 90 TB of disk space and 2 TB RAM - puts GEA Process Engineering in a league of its own regarding Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations of spray drying processes. The benefit for the customers is even better and more efficient spray drying plants.

Process simulations are the key for developing better and more efficient processing plants. GEA Process Engineering has been ahead of the game since the company introduced the DRYNETICS™ method in 2008. By using real drying

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

properties established by single droplet experiments, the Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations provide far more precise results. But because the new 512 core HPC cluster has more and faster CPUs, more RAM and larger storage capacity, and therefore is more than six times as powerful as the previous computer, GEA's Fluid Mechanics R&D-team can now push the boundaries for what's possible even further - whether the job is to give proof of the performance of a given design, help trouble shooting on existing plants or developing new dryer components.

IMA Group acquires OYSTAR Group from ODEWALD The international I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (IMA Group) headquartered in Bologna, Italy, acquires the operating business of OYSTAR Group, a globally leading producer of packaging machines, from private equity firm ODEWALD.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

NEWS

28

The operating companies of OYSTAR Group - Benhil, Erca, Gasti, Hamba and Hassia - will be transferred into the newly founded holding company IMA Dairy and Food GmbH. Under the umbrella of IMA Group, they will continue to act

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

independently and continue their growth. There are no material consequences for the group's customers, employees and production locations following from the change in ownership. The closing of the transaction, which is expected in the first quarter of

2015, is subject to approval of the cartel authorities.

IMA Group will hold 80 percent of the shares in IMA Dairy and Food GmbH, while ODEWALD will continue to support the companies with a minority participation of 20 percent. For the 20 percent of the shares remaining with ODEWALD, put and call options have been agreed upon, planned to be exercised in the years 2017 and 2018. With more than 850 employees, the companies now acquired by IMA expect consolidated revenues of approx. EUR 185 million and an EBITDA of approx. EUR 15 million in fiscal year 2015.

IMA Group is world leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tea, coffee and food. The Group has approx. 3,700 employees and 24 production plants in Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, India and China as well as a global sales and service network.

IMA Group is active in more than 80 countries. For fiscal year 2014, IMA Group expects revenues of EUR 850 million and EBITDA of ca.

EUR 130 million.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

GULFOOD

30

PREVIEW

A GLOBAL GATEWAY FOR FOOD TRADE

T

he 2015 edition of Gulfood, the world's largest annual food and hospitality trade show, marks the 20th anniversary for one of the most important international platforms for the global food trade. Taking place from 8 - 12 February 2015 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Gulfood continues to play a pivotal role in connecting nations and suppliers, opening distribution channels for industryrelated business, and highlighting Dubai's strategic role as a key trading hub for the global food industry.

With the 2014 edition of the show breaking its own participation records and generating show-floor and year-round legacy sales numbering in the billions of US dollars, Gulfood 2015 - the biggest edition in the show's history - is expected to attract more than 4,800 international companies from 120 countries and more than 85,000 visitors from over 170 countries. To accommodate the meteoric growth and tens of thousands of participating brands, Gulfood 2015 will span 127,000m2 of exhibition space - including a 23,000m2, purpose-built temporary structure, the largest-ofits-type regionally.

A unique trade and sourcing platform for finished food suppliers, bulk commodity wholesalers and exporters across the spectrum of fresh, frozen, dry and processed food and beverage products, Gulfood 2015 also facilitates substantial global transactions for foodstuff commodities such as meat, cereals, grains, rice, coffee and tea. Driven by a fastgrowing population, burgeoning hospitality and tourism markets and its prominent position as a

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

re-export hub, the UAE's demand for food staples is increasing at a rate of 30 per cent every year, according to the Ministry of Economy. With imports accounting for between 80-90 per cent of GCC food consumption, Dubai is best placed to cater for increasing demand in regional food trading. “A landmark celebration such as the 20th anniversary of Gulfood is an opportunity to JANUARY-MARCH 2015

GULFOOD

reflect on the show's growth in both scale and stature over the past two decades, and to reiterate the role Gulfood continues to play in brokering significant partnerships and business deals between companies, corporations and countries around the world,� said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events, DWTC. Gulfood 2015 will host an increasing JANUARY-MARCH 2015

PREVIEW

31

number of international heads of state, ministers and government officials, as national trade associations ink lucrative bi-lateral trade agreements and debate food industry trends at industry-shaping conferences and summits scheduled during a series of Gulfood Conferences.

Gulfood is also a major contributor to Dubai's growing reputation as a global events FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

GULFOOD

32

destination and a key pillar of Dubai's 2020 tourism vision, which aims to double the emirate's annual visitors numbers from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million in 2020.

According to a recent report by Euromonitor, the number of F&B outlets in the UAE is expected to double in the next four years, making food service and hospitality equipment a particularly pertinent sector at Gulfood 2015.

Thousands of food and beverage products and services are introduced every year at Gulfood and the Gulfood Awards - in its sixth edition this year - presents an opportunity for best-in-class excellence to be recognised and rewarded. The highly-prestigious accolades celebrate both people and companies behind the region's leadership and innovation in the food and drink industry. Judged by an international panel of independent industry experts, the Awards will be divided in six categories and 10 different awards.

Taking place on the 10th of February 2015 at the five-star Conrad Hotel in Dubai, the Awards evening will also play host to a unique and memorable celebration of the show's achievements over the past 20 editions. Over 1,000 leading industry decision-makers,

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

PREVIEW

celebrity chefs, key exhibitors, customers, media and national groups are expected to attend the anniversary event.

One of Gulfood's undisputed draws for the regions' top professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and bakers every year is the annual Emirates Culinary Guild International Salon Culinaire - a showcase of the region's best culinary talent and expertise. Held in Za'abeel Pavilion, this year's Salon will see more than 1,300 professional chefs evaluated by a panel of 25 renowned experts, mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) to judge culinary events across the globe.

Gulfood 2015 is a strict trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors. The show is open 11am-7pm from February 8-11 and 11am-5pm on February 12. Visitors can pre-register at www.gulfood.com to save AED100 (US$ 27) on the on-site entry fee of AED250 (US$ 66.65).

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

34

GULFOOD

PREVIEW

GULFOOD TO ENHANCE DUBAI'S ROLE AS GLOBAL HUB FOR FOODSTUFF TRADE

A

world-class investment platform and international business facilitator, Gulfood 2015 is poised to play a key role in enhancing Dubai's global position as an inclusive, transparent and compliant marketplace for the foodstuff commodities trade. The 20th edition of the world's largest annual food and hospitality show will take place from 8 - 12 February 2015 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and is forecast to accelerate the Emirate's already brisk trade in commodities, in addition to finished food products.

Owing to its strategic location for major global markets, its developed logistics infrastructure and efficient customs service, as well as hosting the world's largest annual food trade event, Dubai has become a wellconnected, cost-effective global gateway for foodstuff commodities trade. This includes trade in commodities such as rice - the UAE is the world's largest re-exporter of rice, importing rice from 32 countries and exporting it to more than 80 countries globally. It is also the world's biggest reexporter of tea, with many of the world's largest producers and brands using Dubai as their base. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) expected to facilitate more

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

GULFOOD

than 7.5 million kilograms of tea re-exports by the end of 2014.

According to recent figures released by Dubai Customs, Dubai's foodstuff foreign trade including imports, exports and re-exports amounted to AED21.5 billion in the first quarter of 2014 - equating to 17 per cent growth on the AED18.3 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2013. This growth reflects the increase in demand due to economic and population growth, as well as the capacity of the local market to accommodate high volumes of foodstuffs. In this context, a renewed focus on commodities meat, rice, grains, nuts, vegetable oil, coffee, milk, tea - at Gulfood 2015 is particularly relevant and will play an essential role in generating increased revenues from global food transactions across the UAE and specifically in Dubai.

“By providing a convenient and strategic meeting platform for traders and investors from around the world, Gulfood is perfectly positioned to facilitate food trade through Dubai and contribute to the growth and development of the UAE's increasingly diverse economy,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC. “Focusing on providing traders and investors with real added value, the 20th edition of the show will be more influential than ever with business transactions expected to reach an all-time high.”

The biggest edition in the show's history, Gulfood 2015 is expected to attract more than 4,800 international companies from 120 countries and over 85,000 visitors from 170

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

PREVIEW

35

countries. With billions of dollars' worth of trading reported by exhibitors via their participation at last year's show, the US pavilion alone - with almost 200 companies participating - generated show-floor and legacy sales of more than US$300 million. Other countries with a long history of Gulfood participation including Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Italy, France, South Africa and Germany also reported excellent results and acknowledged the unprecedented global reach of the busiest show to date.

The United States, which is among the largest national pavilions at Gulfood 2015, is Dubai's third largest trading partner contributing nine per cent annually, equivalent to around AED3 billion. The list is topped by India and Brazil, with shares of 12 and 10 per cent, respectively. While Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Western Europe are the major importers of food products from Dubai, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and India are some of the newest export markets 82 per cent of new export deals concluded in 2013 came from Saudi Arabia. According to Dubai Exports, Dubai is favourably placed to meet the growing demand for dried foods in Asia-Pacific and for pasta in Western Europe, with both regions witnessing strong demand for vegetable oil.

With quality of produce, Halal standards and freshness being of paramount importance, the regional market potential is strong for commodities, including the global meat industry. According to the Alpen Capital GCC Food Industry Report, the consumption of meat is expected to grow faster than any other food

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

GULFOOD

36

product through to 2017 at a CAGR of 3.9 per cent, followed by fruits, vegetables, milk and cereals.

Due to significant shifts in consumption patterns, particularly in emerging regions such as the Middle East, consumers are moving from carbohydrate-based foods to protein-rich diets, including meat and dairy. While traditional food habits still dominate, the growing GCC population - expected to exceed 50 million by 2020 - and rising affluence regional levels are leading to increased demand for premium protein-rich foods, particularly meat.

The continued growth in trade is also reflected in the demand for exhibition space at Gulfood 2015 and February's show will span more than 127,000m2 of exhibition space, including a 23,000m2, purpose-built temporary structure - the largest-of-its-type regionally. The biggest European showcase ever and the largest South American participation to date have also been confirmed. In addition to strong national pavilion representation from countries around the world, Gulfood is also the preferred platform for niche companies looking for new opportunities to launch their products and expand their distribution networks into other markets.

With operations in 30 countries including Turkic CIS, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Far East, Hakan Agro DMCC - one of the world's largest food ingredients supply organisations will leverage Gulfood 2015 to expand its operational network. Valued at approximately US$1.2 billion, the specialist global supply FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

PREVIEW

chain manager currently sells over 1.5 Million MTs of food commodities from 55 origin countries to more than 1000 customers in more than 90 destination countries.

Headquartered in Dubai, Hakan Agro specialises in feed ingredients, vegetable protein segments such as pulses (beans, lentils, peas), oilseeds (sesame seeds, ground nuts), spices (ginger, turmeric, cloves), animal feed ingredients, soya beans, soya meal, corn, cereals, dairy products, rice, and frozen poultry and meats.

"We have been avid supporters of and exhibitors at Gulfood for many years and we look forward to showcasing our wide range of animal and vegetable proteins and raw materials at the show's landmark 20th edition," said SudhakarTomar, Managing Director, Hakan Agro DMCC. "The international food trade meets at Gulfood, making it the perfect platform for our specialist Traders and Executives to meet visitors and clients with tremendous purchasing power to discuss existing and potential business liaisons."

Gulfood's tighter, more focused format, coupled with the staging of knowledgeexchange conferences and events, will attract hundreds of key stakeholders from across the international food industry value chain to address key topics relevant to the food industry. The Major Buyers Lounge will provide industry's senior business professionals with an exclusive VIP networking facility to ensure maximum networking opportunities.

Gulfood 2015 is a strict trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors. The show is open 11am-7pm from February 8-11 and 11am-5pm on February 12. Visitors can pre-register at www.gulfood.com to save AED100 (US$ 27) on the on-site entry fee of AED250 (US$ 66.65).

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

38

GULFOOD

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

MANUFACTURING

REVIEW

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

GULFOOD

M

MANUFACTURING

ajor food processing industry heavyweights from around the world have universally praised the inaugural edition of Gulfood Manufacturing, which debuted earlier this month as Dubai World Trade Centre's largest-ever trade show launch.

A sector-specific spin-off of February's annual Gulfood trade show, the three-day Gulfood Manufacturing hosted more than 1,100 companies from 56 countries - including 26 official country pavilions - and attracted 26,329 visitors from 156 countries.

Billed as the largest dedicated food processing trade event in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA), the runaway success of Gulfood Manufacturing has prompted a host of local, regional and international food processing authorities to laud the inaugural show - which ran over 50,000m2 of DWTC exhibition space - as a tailor-made platform to drive investment in the regional food processing sector.

“The fact Gulfood Manufacturing was so big

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

REVIEW

39

GLOBAL FOOD PROCESSING HEAVYWEIGHTS LAUD INAUGURAL GULFOOD MANUFACTURING and popular on its first outing highlights the demand for a specialist show in this sector,” said His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The industry is always interested in discovering the next big thing in food processing and this exhibition

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

42

GULFOOD

MANUFACTURING

opens up doors for businesses to expand and learn from each other. As a business channel, Gulfood Manufacturing will drive investment in the regional food processing sector as local and regional companies invest in equipment and machinery to improve their manufacturing and packaging lines.”

Having provided a one-stop-shop for regional food processors to source the latest ingredients, processing machinery, packaging equipment and logistics, warehousing and cold chain solutions to enable faster, cheaper and cost-effective production of safer and more reliable products, Gulfood Manufacturing was praised for bringing the very best of cuttingedge, international business improvement solutions to Dubai.

“The growth of any economy requires industry, industry requires machinery and Gulfood Manufacturing brought that specialist equipment directly to us,” said Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Chairman of the Food & Beverage Manufacturers Business Group and Managing FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

REVIEW

Director of Al Islami Foods. “Previously, local food processors had to travel to Germany or Italy and visit companies one by one to see the latest machinery - it was very difficult. The fastmoving consumer goods industry is constantly changing and it is not easy to stay on top of technology innovations or consumer trends. As a dedicated platform, Gulfood Manufacturing eradicated these problems and raised the bar; it will take the local and regional food processing industry to the next level. The show recognises there is a great opportunity for local companies and gives everyone a chance to gain more know-how and to buy on-the-spot - it hit the nail on the head.”

Having welcomed leading machinery and equipment providers from every corner of the world, hundreds of exhibitors reported sales comfortably exceeded their expectations. In addition to Chinese firm Foshan Choctaek Machinery Mould Ltd. receiving four regional orders for complete production lines at an estimated cost of US$800,000 (AED 2.94 JANUARY-MARCH 2015

44

GULFOOD

MANUFACTURING

million), Claranor - a French company providing packaging sterilisation solutions for the beverage and dairy industries - closed a lucrative deal with Masafi Oman to install and integrate flat cap steriliser machines to ensure safe and clean bottled products. Elsewhere, UKbased T Freemantle Ltd. reported sales of more than £200,000 (AED 1.5 million) over the show's opening two days.

“We sold three of our small, two-flap sealing machines, a starter model for companies looking to manufacture food products, frozen foods, desserts and bakery goods, and two of our high-speed, fully-automated systems - a high-end production machine more suitable for higher volumes - to buyers from the UAE, Saudi, Qatar and Lebanon,” said Richard Kitchen, CSO, T Freemantle Ltd. “We were a little concerned that Gulfood Manufacturing, as a new show, might not get the same footfall as Gulfood but the spenders were at Gulfood Manufacturing and they were there to buy machinery, in some cases right off the stand.”

As one of 38 companies participating under the UK's Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) group, David Harrison, the PPMA's Commercial and International Manager, said T Freemantle Limited's sales were not the exception.

“The general feedback has been superb right from the opening; our exhibitors witnessed a record number of leads and enquiries, machinery selling straight off the stands, customers coming back to negotiate payment the least happy person was our shipping agent as there was a lot less coming home,” said

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

REVIEW

Harrison. “The UK's confidence in this show was phenomenal; we doubled the size of our group's stand at February's Gulfood and our companies were rewarded for it.”

With GCC food imports forecast to reach US $ 53.1 billion by 2020 according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, officials from DWTC, the show organiser, maintain Gulfood Manufacturing is perfectly-positioned to leverage Dubai's strategic position as the recognised manufacturing and logistics gateway between East and West and the primary re-export hub to emerging countries and economies across MEASA. “Gulfood Manufacturing underlined how major international suppliers across the global food processing, packaging and manufacturing sectors view the Middle East as a key growth territory,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President, Events & Exhibitions Department, DWTC. “With the creation of this tailored investment platform, we have accelerated international equipment, logistics and cold chain suppliers' access to securing operational footholds in one of the world's fastest growing markets. Gulfood Manufacturing has the potential to be the springboard for multi-billion dollar investments in burgeoning food processing markets across the show's catchment areas.”

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

SIAL

46

MIDDLE

T

he fifth edition of the region's fastest growing professional trade exhibition for the food, drink and hospitality industry, which returned to Abu Dhabi attracted a record turnout in visitors and exhibitors.

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and organized in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), SIAL Middle East 2014 took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 24-26 November 2014.

The three-day exhibition occupied all six halls at the ADNEC venue with an international line-up of global food industry players from four continents and a record 27 international pavilions.

According to Fadi Saad, Director, SIAL Middle East, the growth of the exhibition over the past 5 years clearly demonstrates the need for a dedicated industry forum in order to drive the industry forward in a sustainable manner.

The 2014 show included a new feature dedicated to the manufacturing process. The colocated Middle East Pack exhibition showcased packaging, processing, ingredients, printing and handling industries companies for the food and beverage sector.

Al Ain Dairy scoops SIAL award for Camelait ice cream Camelait premium Camel Ice Cream was the big winner at the SIAL Innovation Awards.

Organised by SIAL Middle East in conjunction

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

EAST

REVIEW

ABU DHABI HOSTS RECORD BREAKING SIAL with Etihad Airways, the award was presented to the Al Ain Dairy company at a special ceremony at the Aloft hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The healthy alternative to regular ice cream was recognised as a ground breaking product reflecting global trends and it was certainly a case of second-helpings for Al Ain Dairy having won the award once before at the augural ceremony back in 2011 for their cardamom flavoured vitamin A and D enriched milk.

Kingston Fernandes, Head of Sales for Al Ain Dairy Company said: “We are thrilled to receive the SIAL Innovation Award, it gives us great confidence and belief that this delicious, healthy and unique product will be a global success. SIAL Middle East has once again provided us with a fantastic platform to bring our products to an international audience.�

Out of the original 142 food and beverage products entered, 42 were shortlisted, out of which ten finalists were selected and five of those products were produced in the UAE. Acquacedri Natural Mineral Water, Helmig's Curcumin Effervescent, Constant Energy shot and two products from eventual winner Al Ain Dairy.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

48

SIAL

MIDDLE

Speaking on behalf of a panel of judges which consisted of independent international food professionals, Xavier Terlet, CEO of the global food industry consultants, XTC World Innovation said: “The judges were extremely impressed by the quality of all of the 142 entries we received this year at SIAL Middle East. Social media is accelerating global consumer trends, so it's encouraging to see a wealth of new and innovative products coming to market in response to that growing demand,” said Terlet.

“Throughout the show health and convenience have been the prevalent trends this year, with many new products focusing on natural ingredients while still meeting the approval of evermore discerning consumers. Al Ain Dairy's low fat Camelait Camel Ice Cream, is an outstanding product, it touches all trending criteria and thoroughly deserves this accolade.”

The awards are based on stringent criteria and cover an array of food categories including health, taste, ethics, convenience and appearance, as well as the level of innovation involved in developing the product, including the manufacturing process and ingredients. This year, the SIAL Middle East exhibition featured winning products from other regional competitions held in China, Brazil, Canada, Paris and the Philippines.

Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director of Communication and Community Service Division at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and Chairman of the SIAL Middle FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

EAST

REVIEW

East organising committee said: “The SIAL Innovation Award provides ongoing encouragement to all food companies in the UAE. Not only to react to market trends or to anticipate them, but to try and create demand by producing innovative products that can appeal to what is fast-becoming a transient global audience.”

Exhibitors and visitors to SIAL, the region's fastest growing professional trade event for the food, drink and hospitality industry, will have the opportunity to view a range of winning products from other global SIAL events at the Innovation Observatory, one of the many highlights of the three-day exhibition and conference.

Held under the strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, SIAL Middle East is part of the world's largest network of professional food events, which include SIAL Paris, SIAL China, SIAL Canada, and SIAL Brazil.

SIAL Middle East hosted over 1000 exhibitors, 650 chefs, buyers from 50 major airlines and 27 international pavilions underscoring the growth and popularity of the event.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

WOP

50

DUBAI

THE ONLY TRADE FAIR FOR FRESH PRODUCE IN THE REGION

W

OP DUBAI, the Middle East's leading exhibition for fresh fruits and vegetables business continue growing! 25.98% visitor's increase from the last year, 31% growth on the rented space and many more.

For the sixth consecutive year the show WOP DUBAI was organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality.

The exhibition took place November 09th 11th, 2014 at The Dubai World Trade Centre, alongside the 9th edition of IPM DUBAI - The International Plants Expo Middle East, the region's dedicated plants and flowers trade show. Both

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

REVIEW

shows were inaugurated by H.E. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director- General of the Dubai Municipality and are organized by planetfair Dubai and Messe Essen GmbH in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality and Dubai Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, the Middle East's biggest market for import and export.

Overall, 152 Participating companies was at WOP DUBAI 2014 came from 24 nations and presented wide range of products and services.

They came from Australia, Belgium, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.

4436 traders and industry professional from 80 different countries visited the exhibition with a growth of 25.98% from the last year for WOP attendance figures. 7743 visitors' attended both shows with the general total growth of 26% from WOP 2013 figures.

2015 will continue its success with the same venue Dubai World Trade Centre - the most prestigious exhibition center in the Middle East where it is expected to have another substantial increase of space and capacity for the exhibition and provider exhibitors more services and space option.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

HALAL

52

MIDDLE

HALAL TRADE FAIR AND CONGRESS CONCLUDES

T

he UAE's growing role as a key Islamic economy industry player was once again reinforced at the just-concluded international halal event in Sharjah.

The event also came at a time when UAE was placed among top countries in the 'Global Islamic Economy Indicator', a composite index that presents the current development health of Islamic economy sectors across 70 core countries, in the recently released 'State of the Global Islamic Economy Report'.

The UAE was also ranked first in Islamic trading among members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2012, with trade valued at US$91.3 billion. The UAE accounted for 13.40% of the volume of trade between member countries, according to a recent OIC statement.

“The 3rd OIC Halal Middle East Exhibition & Congress, which was held at Expo Centre Sharjah from December 8 to 10, 2014, was

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

EAST

REVIEW

seen as a global halal event taking place in a vibrant halal market that covers the entire Middle East and North African and the Indian Sub-Continent,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Halal Middle East and the concurrent 2nd Kitchen Equipment & Technology Exhibition Middle East attracted 3,297 visitors during their three-day run.

Visiting dignitaries were all praise for the event. “I have visited many halal trade shows in different parts of the world. The Halal Middle East is probably the most positive one at present,” said Ms. Sunapa Wuthikankoson, Third Secretary, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand.

“Being a comprehensive halal event, Halal Middle East could generate and sustain tremendous industry interest. What makes the event significant is the fact that apart from a Muslim-majority regional populace, the participants are in the thick of an emerging halal hub of a fast-growing industry. The emergence of the UAE as a formidable halal player offers them priceless opportunities, apart from access to a high-potential regional market,” added Mr. Midfa.

For exhibitors, this meant instant access to new markets, supply & demand information and networking opportunities.

“I strongly believe that such events can turn into very useful instruments of growth for any company. We have been talking to global groups in our small stand and we have been sharing information with all market segments of the Gulf despite the reduced timeframe at our disposal,” said Mr. Lavdush Tormetaj, President & CEO, Arstl Group, Albania.

“We came across potential buyers from local market and received inquiries from East African markets,” said Mr. Om Swaroop, Director Business Development, Chilly Willy Food & Beverage Industries L.L.C, Dubai.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

54

SWEETS & SNACKS MIDDLE EAST REVIEW

S

weets & Snacks Middle East 2014, which took place this year for the eighth time in Dubai, closed its doors after three intensive business days with its best results to date. Including an estimation of the last day's participation a total of around 7,000 top purchasers from more than 70 countries visited the trade fair. This represents an increase in visitors over the previous year of 13%. The visitors, who predominantly travelled to Dubai from the MENA region, took advantage of the diversity of products at the trade fair, which also experienced strong growth in the number of exhibitors. Overall, about 230 suppliers from 38 countries exhibited a broad product spectrum, about thirty per cent more than at the previous event in 2013. "The dynamic course of Sweets & Snacks Middle East 2014 again shows how well the trade fair works as a trading hub for sweets and snacks here at the Dubai site", says Denis Steker, Vice President International Outbound Fairs at Koelnmesse GmbH, summarising the results.

"The market is growing continuously, and the size and relevance of the trade fair is growing with it." Sweets & Snacks Middle East is organized jointly by Koelnmesse and the Dubai World Trade Centre.

According to Euromonitor International, the sales market for sweets and snacks in the Middle East alone has risen by 20 per cent annually since 2010.

Comparable rates of increase are also anticipated for the coming year. This is due to the increase in disposable income and the trend towards high-end products in the growing middle class throughout the MENA region.

Hence quality was also a theme at the exhibitors' stands. Leading manufacturers from around the world, including BMB (UAE), CĂŠmoi (France), Duc D'O (Belgium), Lambertz (Germany), Original Candy (UK), Original Gourmet (USA), Peccin (Brazil), Roshen (Ukraine) or Witor's (Italy) presented themselves with a broad spectrum of products.

In particular, this year was marked by a strong growth in exhibitor numbers from Europe and Asia. The national pavilions from Germany, Jordan and Turkey presented their products on a much larger area. Belgium, Brazil, China, Greece, Malaysia, the Netherlands and the USA were also at the venue in Dubai with joint participations.

The exhibitors were very impressed and

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

MOST SUCCESSFUL EDITION TO DATE confirmed the competence and quality of the trade visitors in Dubai, who amongst other things were intensively looked after within the framework of a "Hosted Buyer Program".

Amongst others, AtanĂĄs Zikas, Area Manager International at Lambertz, gave a positive appraisal of the company's first appearance at Sweets & Snacks Middle East: "We have been able to make many high-quality, interesting and promising contacts at this trade fair. Dubai is the ideal location to develop the sales potential of the MENA region." For Erik de Troyer, International Sales Manager.

Duc d'O, Sweets & Snacks Middle East is a clearly focused trade fair and hence precisely the right platform for placing the company's premium brand within the region: "The quality of visitors at this focused platform is excellent for our products in comparison with nonspecialised food trade fairs in the region, and the demand for high-quality products such as ours is very high here."

The Speciality Food Festival, SEAFEX and Gulfood Manufacturing trade fairs took place in parallel with Sweets & Snacks Middle East, which permitted further synergies for both exhibitors and visitors.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

SAUCE

AND

CONDIMENTS

57

THE SAUCE THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

L

ee Kum Kee was founded in 1888 by Mr. Lee Kum Sheung who invented oyster sauce by sheer accident. However, it was by no means accidental that Lee Kum Kee started producing its own soy sauce in the 1990s.

In 1992, Lee Kum Kee managed to embark on the proper course in producing soy sauce when Mr. Lee Man Tat acquired a small soy sauce factory in Kwu Tung, Hong Kong, and adopted the traditional craftsmanship of soy sauce production with expert's advice.

After several years of continued research and development at the Kwu Tung factory, Lee Kum Kee eventually succeeded in developing its own unique fermentation technique to brew soy sauce with the finest ingredients, traditional craft, and self-cultivated Koji to ensure the stability of soy sauce quality.

Over 2000 tanks of 60 tonnes capacity wereinstalled in 2012 to provide for the natural fermentation of soy sauce. With annual productivity increased by over 10 times in 15 years, Lee Kum Kee is now one of China's leading soy sauce producers.

From the first bottle of soy sauce, Lee Kum Kee has been determined to combine traditional fermentation techniques with advance food science and technology, to ensure the supreme and reliable quality of its soy sauce. Lee Kum Kee acquires Koji of the highest quality from the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences for soy sauce fermentation. As for soy beans, only non-genetically modified soy beans which exceed the highest National Primary Standard are used for production.

Apart from increasing production capacity,

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

Lee Kum Kee also enhances the variety of its products. More than 20 kinds of soy sauce of different formulation are now available in the market. These include Seasoned Soy Sauce for Seafood, Chilli Soy Sauce, Sweet Soy Sauce, Double Deluxe Soy Sauce and so on to meet the aspiration and demand of consumers.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

58

SAUCE

AND

CONDIMENTS

FRIED EGG NOODLES WITH SEAFOOD IN SOY SAUCE Ingredients 120g Egg Noodles 30g Fish Fillet - Cut into Pieces 50g Shrimp (Prawns) Washed, Peeled and Deveined 30g Squid - Cut into Pieces 100g Bean Sprouts - Drained 1 tbsp Ginger - Shredded 20 Onions - Shredded

L Put some water into a pan and bring to boil. Cook the fish, shrimps and squid till cooked.

Drain and set aside.

L Stir-fry bean sprouts in 1 tbsp oil. Drain and set aside.

L Saute ginger and onions in 2 tbsp oil. Add seafood and fry until done.

Stir in bean sprouts, egg noodles and seasonings. Stir well until heated through and ready to serve.

Seasonings 2tbsp Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce 1tsp Lee Kum Kee Dark Soy Sauce 1 tsp Sugar 1tsp Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil Dash Pepper 50g Chicken Stock Method L Cook egg noodles in boiling water according to packet instructions or until tender. Drain.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

60

FOOD

C O N S U LTA N C I E S

RECRUITMENT MARKET LEADER FOR THE FOOD & BEVERAGE SECTORS

F

“THE DUBAI TEAM HAS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP LONG TERM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH CLIENTS IN THE REGION AND BEYOND. I AM ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED BY THE CLIENT RESPONSE WE HAVE HAD, WORKING WITH SO MANY HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND REPUTABLE BUSINESSES.”

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

ocus Management International is a recruitment market leader in the GCC region, specifically for the Food and Beverage sectors. Part of Focus Management Consultants Ltd, it has over 25 years experience in strategic recruitment activity for the demanding Food and Beverage retail, manufacturing and hospitality sectors. The decision was made several years ago to work internationally, and the establishment of an office and dedicated team in Dubai was the obvious first choice when the business moved beyond Europe in 2012.

This was a consequence of clients wanting both local knowledge and international reach to secure the best candidates available.

James Everall, Regional Director explains “I worked for the Group in the UK and regularly visited the GCC region to work with clients. It became very clear that they wanted us working here locally to support their strategic plans and recruit entire teams for them”. The Food and Beverage industry is a hugely dynamic sector, and requires very specific skills, knowledge and frequently qualifications to ensure senior level resourcing success.

“We are able to draw on a database of over 500,000 candidates from local and international markets to find the perfect solution for our clients. Our recent move to Knowledge Village has allowed us to broaden our service with recruitment and regional client account management handled directly from the office here in Dubai.”

Stephen Jones, MD of the group says “The Dubai team has a fantastic opportunity to develop long term strategic partnerships with clients in the region and beyond. I am absolutely delighted by the client response we have had, working with so many highly successful and reputable businesses. We see the potential for significant business growth for Focus Management International at Knowledge Village.”

If you are interested in finding how we may assist you or your organisation, or if you would be interested in hearing about careers with Focus Management International, please contact the team on (0)4 552 0606 or email james.everall@fmcl.ae Focus Management International, Knowledge Village, PO Box 500775, G15, Ground Floor, Building 02, Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.focusmanagementconsultants.co.uk/internationalfood-jobs

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

We’re looking for you...

Franchise F&B Localisation Manager 40,000-50,000 AED per month plus bonus & benefits This role is all about influencing and guiding the franchise partners in product development & marketing collateral. You will have regional responsibility across the MENA region and will be expected to continue the rich heritage of the host brand by keeping their products at the forefront of the market. You will present a senior level of gravitas within food development and product strategies, coupled with the ability to add intellectual ability to the franchise partners.

Based Dubai. JFE11692

General Sales Manager Middle East & India (Food Equipment) 25,000-30,000 AED per month plus bonus & benefits Our client is a global leader within its field and has some of the most innovative and sought after F&B equipment in the industry. Due to impressive growth and heightened demand for its products, there is a need for a high-calibre & driven Sales Manager to head up the Middle East & Indian region based at the businesses new offices in Dubai. Currently based within the GCC you will have experience in a sales or business development environment within the F&B equipment industry. You will also have well established contacts within the major QSR, HORECA & Foodservice channels. Based Dubai. JFE11683

Finance Director – Food Manufacturing (Arabic Speaking) 55,000-75,000 AED per month plus bonus & benefits Our client is a well established food business with manufacturing, sales & supply chain offices across the MEA. It manufactures for all the F&B channels across a number of categories. Reporting into the CFO you will be a part of the senior management team and will have extensive experience across the GCC and North Africa. Our client requires Arabic speaking candidates based in the UAE or Saudi Arabia only. If you are looking for a role with significant business responsibility and influence on critical decisions this could be of interest. Based Dubai. JFE1000

Recruitment Consultant

competitive OTE plus car allowance, pension and uncapped bonus The growth strategy for Focus Management International requires a least two more recruits to join the team in Dubai. We offer a consultative resourcing service to our food, drink and FMCG clients across the GCC region, often working on retained multi-assignment projects. If you are an experienced Recruitment Consultant looking to join an established and successful team, then this could be a great career development opportunity for

you. People with experience from Hospitality, Logistics and Finance recruitment would be of specific interest, but anyone recruiting for the FMCG sector will be considered. Based Dubai. MGS1000

Operations Manager 1,800-2,300 KWD per month plus bonus & benefits Are you an experienced food and beverage industry manufacturing professional who has cross- category product experience? Reporting into the Senior Operations Manager with up to 200 direct reports, this opportunity requires somebody who has a strong background in building strong teams and driving a continuous improvement culture throughout the business. Minimum of 10 years relevant industry experience with 5 years in a managerial position is required. Based Kuwait. LMT11804

QA Manager c. 2,500 BHD per month plus bonus & benefits This opportunity will provide you with the opportunity to work with a globally recognised brand within a world class manufacturing environment. You must have an understanding of ISO and HACCP and work closely with other key functions to ensure the high quality of finished goods. To be considered for this position you will have a minimum of 5 years technical experience in the food industry with a university degree in Chemistry, Microbiology or Food Technology.

Based Bahrain. LMT11802

Country Manager KSA 40,000-50,000 SAR per month plus bonus & benefits Do you have the experience and expertise necessary to lead the growth of a major food and beverage manufacturer into the KSA market? This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to form a key part of the senior leadership of this organisation as they realise exciting expansion plans. Your background will have seen you in both handson sales and operational positions, and you will have progressed through the ranks of major food and beverage manufacturer within KSA. Based Saudi Arabia. JJM11569

Sales Capability Manager KSA 25,000–30,000 SAR per month plus bonus & benefits This is an excellent opportunity for a sales or trade marketing professional to broaden their career horizons and have a direct influence on the capability and development of a major multinational’s sales force. This role is a crucial appointment and you will work alongside the top leadership team within the organisation, as well as having regular interaction with regional and global teams in order to determine and communicate key capability plans and agendas.

Based Saudi Arabia. JJM11789

If you are interested in any of these roles please send your CV to aya.daher@fmcl.ae quoting the advert reference number Focus Management International Dubai Knowledge Village, PO Box 500775, G15, Ground Floor, Building 02, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

00971 (0) 4552 0606

S TA B I L I S E R S

62

NEW ALL-IN COMPOUNDS ADDRESS THE GROWING TREND TO MEATLESS PRODUCTS

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

T

hese days, more and more people are cutting back on meat or even giving up meat and sausage entirely. Vegetarian and vegan products are getting more shelf space in regular supermarkets. Hydrosol is meeting the rising demand for meatless alternatives with new all-in compounds for the manufacture of vegetarian and vegan cold cuts, and alternatives to hot boiled sausages.

These all-in compounds contain all the components necessary for the formulation, including mild seasoning that can be enhanced as desired. The composition of these products addresses the demands of nutrition-focussed consumers in detail. “Our new HydroTOP series all-in compounds consist of various hydrocolloids and vegetable proteins. For vegan cold cuts we use soy and pea protein, while the vegetarian versions contain pea and egg protein,” explains product developer CarstenCarstens of Hydrosol's meat product R&D. “The stabilising systems contain no gluten, milk protein or phosphates. The seasoning is completely free of glutamate.

For the colouring agent we use an alternative to natural cochineal, since that is harvested from scale insects and so is an animal product, strictly speaking.” Yet the final products have the appetizing pink colour typical of sausage cold cuts.

But according to Carstens, the main thing is the texture, which is absolutely comparable to bologna or mortadella. “We have succeeded in developing the basis for a meatless cold cut that has a pleasing bite and can be sliced quite effectively by conventional slicing machines, which is very important for industrial production. The products have a familiar mouth feel that consumers are accustomed to from conventional cold cuts.

As a result they win over even enthusiastic meat and sausage eaters.”

The vegetarian alternatives to wieners and currywurst also compare favourably with their traditional meat counterparts. “With products that are consumed hot, getting a pleasingly firm texture is a special challenge. Our special new functional system for this purpose gives the ideal, firm bite.”

With Hydrosol's all-in compounds manufacturers can make products that address consumer demand for meatless alternatives, while offering a high level of JANUARY-MARCH 2015

S TA B I L I S E R S

enjoyment. Production is also very straightforward, requiring only a conventional cutter and a stuffer to fill the finished mass into casings. The functional systems are stirred together with water, salt and vegetable oil. By adding ingredients like herbs, nuts, blanched vegetables, mushrooms or cheese, manufacturers can give their cold cuts an individual note.

A Stephan cutter can also be used for production. These new all-in compounds from Hydrosol are thus of interest not just for the meat industry, but also for manufacturers of cheese preparations and alternatives, as well as manufacturers of vegetarian and delicatessen products. For example, the latter can use vegan cold cuts and Hydrosol's vegan mayonnaise compound to make completely vegan alternatives to sausage salad with high sensory appeal.

About Hydrosol Hydrosol GmbH & Co. KG headquartered in Ahrensburg near Hamburg, Germany, is a fastgrowing supplier of food stabilisers, with representatives around the world. Its specialists develop and produce tailor-made stabiliser systems for dairy products, ice cream and desserts, delicatessen and ready meals, as well as meat, sausage and fish products. With its international network of 16 subsidiaries and numerous qualified foreign representatives, the company is represented in the world's key markets. As a member of the independent, owner-operated Stern-WywiolGruppe with a total of eleven sister companies, Hydrosol can make use of many synergies. The company has access to the knowledge of some 70 R&D specialists and to the extensive applications technology of the Group's large Technology Centre in Ahrensburg. It also benefits from shared production facilities and the Group's own logistics resources, so it can offer customers a high degree of flexibility and innovation capabilities. The Stern-WywiolGruppe is one of the world's most successful international suppliers of food & feed ingredients.

For more information: E-mail: abuenting@hydrosol.de

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

63

PA C K A G I N G

64

TETRA PAK CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE “INNOVATION FOR GROWTH” AT GULFOOD 2015

T

etra Pak, the world leader in food processing and packaging solutions, continues to showcase its expertise and core focus on innovation at Gulfood 2015. As a longstanding participant at Gulfood, this year Tetra Pak will host its customers in the exclusive 'Tetra Pak Customer Oasis' - a dedicated area not only designed to showcase Tetra Pak's innovation for growth theme, but also to offer guests a welcoming and inspiring getaway from the busyness of the world's biggest annual food trade show.

Inspiration, Innovation, Industry leadership The Tetra Pak Customer Oasis will offer Tetra Pak customers business sustenance with the showcasing of Tetra Pak's innovative approach to helping customers grow their business. The Tetra Pak Customer Oasis is divided into the four areas identified as vital for most food processing and packaging customers. Each area provides demonstration of the innovative approaches Tetra Pak delivers to help customers increase revenues, manage costs, reduce risk across the value chain, and build brand equity.

“Tetra Pak is committed to delivering solutions and adding value, and this year we're providing our customers with the opportunity to explore the innovative ways that Tetra Pak adds value to their business success in an inspiring way,” says Amar Zahid, President, Greater Middle East & Africa (GME&A), Tetra Pak. Tetra Pak will also introduce its first series of exclusive seminars Tetra Pak seminars are designed to provide customers with the latest information and developments in the food processing and packaging industry. Titled “Tetra Pak

Knowledge Series”, the seminars will run on a daily basis at the Tetra Pak Customer Oasis. Key topics will include the latest packaging and design trends, insights into dairy and beverage sectors as well as how to reach consumers with lower income levels.

“Gulfood presents a great opportunity for us to share our extensive market intelligence and analysis of markets around the world. The 'Tetra Pak Knowledge Series “will address key topics and issues to provide our customers with some valuable insights into the industry,” says Zahid.

Tetra Pak has a long-standing partnership and association with Gulfood and its participation affirms the importance of this region for the company.

Delivering more than 28 billion packages last year within the Greater Middle East and Africa, the region is

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

the one of the biggest markets for Tetra Pak worldwide.

Marking a Milestone — Gulfood's 20th Anniversary This year Gulfood celebrates its 20th edition, and as part of the special celebrations for this landmark anniversary, Tetra Pak is creating a unique crowd-sourced installation in a shape of the award winning Tetra Brik® Aseptic Edge package.

Gulfood exhibitors will be invited to become part of this special commemorative gift by placing their images and congratulatory wishes on the giant installation.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

S TA R C H

SOLUTIONS

65

KMC REVEALS NEW TEXTURES WITH POTATO-BASED SOLUTIONS

G

ums & jellies are sweet delicious treats that come in a multitude of colours, shapes, textures and tastes. Preferences vary and every consumer has his own favourite - for some the preferred texture is a soft and chewy jelly and for others a hard and brittle gum or yet again something in-between.

Both gelatine and starches are well-known as gelling agents in gums and jellies. While gelatine originates from animals, starches are of purely vegetable origin and thus offer a unique opportunity for serving consumers of all geographic and religious backgrounds.

The Danish-based potato starch company KMC has challenged the textures traditionally obtained with starch solutions. Their team of experienced food scientists was determined to challenge both their basic starch toolbox, the lab technicians and themselves into developing new exciting textures. So far, their work has resulted in a new solution, Gelamyl2M5 that adds a remarkably good elasticity and a nice bite to the broad texture palette of the existing Gelamyl product line.

Gelamyl starches are specifically designed for application in the very special and different recipes and the varying processing conditions for gelled confectionery. This means high resistance to mechanical stress and high temperatures. Even in high dosages, Gelamyl keeps a low viscosity while hot, and its easy handling during moulding results in savings of time, space and energy.

KMC's team of commercial and technical sales support helps customers find that particular starch product and gelling agent that creates exactly their candy specialty. This is done considering their specific production conditions whether we talk soft and hard gums, liquorice and pastilles, compressed tablets, Turkish delight and many other applications.

KMC's Gelamyl products are halal certified and non-GMO specialty starches based on Danish grown potatoes. Gelamyl starches form JANUARY-MARCH 2015

Technical sales manager Jeppe Witte Nielsen and application specialist Maria Elena Hansen test gums in the confectionery pilot plant at KMC, Denmark. very clear and transparent gels, which ensures full effect of colours. The clean and neutral flavour profile of potato starch permits full release of your added flavour.

But, it takes more than high performance and innovative ingredients to create new exiting developments within the gum and jelly industry. It also takes resources in the NPD department, not to forget accessibility to proper pilot facilities for proper testing and trials.

To serve our customers KMC has invested in new pilot and test facilities with state of the art processing equipment and supported by highly advanced analytical lab facilities for characterization of both raw materials and the final confectionery product.

KMC is able to act fast on new requests and demands from the market, but even more important able to make individual developments in cooperation with the customers.

For further information, please contact Peter Haugsted (mailto:ph@kmc.dk) General Manager KMC MEA FZ. L.L.C. P.O. Box 334155 Dubai United Arab Emirates Local Cell: +971 056 7412072

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

US

66

F

U P D AT E

oodSource, Inc. is a global supplier of nuts and dried fruit connecting North American growers with international markets. Their export customer base includes importers, food distributors, food manufacturers and national retailers. The thousands of tons of products they ship annually serve the food industry throughout the Middle East, as well as in North Africa, Asia and Europe.

FoodSource is actively engaged in expanding their service share in the Middle Eastern food manufacturing sector. This focus has shown promising results, in part because their products are relevant to regional trends.

The area's middle class is enjoying steady growth, a factor known to drive demand in certain product categories, particularly convenience foods. In turn, this creates an increased need for reliable suppliers of the high quality ingredients necessary to manufacture popular snack items, as well as many other shelf stable foods. FoodSource has the products and experience necessary to serve this emerging need, in the Middle

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

AWARD WINNING FRUIT AND NUT SUPPLIERS East and in developing countries throughout the world.

Award Winning Excellence In 2014, FoodSource received the President's “E” Award for Exports, a national honor established in 1961 to recognize excellence in export practices. Four years of successive export growth and an innovative marketing plan that led to the increase are important factors in a company's eligibility for this award.

“The “E” Awards Committee was very impressed with FoodSource's market development for pecans in countries where the nuts are unknown. The company's work to reduce the financial risk of exporting for its suppliers was also particularly impressive,” said US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in the congratulatory statement announcing FoodSource as a winner.

The innovative service model behind their success is focused on relationship building.

“Connecting people is at the heart of what we do,” said company president and founder Syed Hussain. “We understand the challenges of exporting high value food commodities, and establishing trust mitigates risk on both sides of the transaction. When FoodSource launched in 2002 I committed to the principal of building long term relationships, and the benefits of that policy are evident in our success.”

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

DENMARK

68

U P D AT E

THE “DANISH” SECRET

Y

ou can bite into a Danish Pastry almost all over the world. However, if you ever had the pleasure of biting into an original Danish Pastry from Denmark, you realize that the original is taking it to a whole new level. So we had a look into the secrets behind the original Danish Pastry: why is it so tasty, light & flaky and why is it so hard to copy? Finally, we investigated why they call it “Vienna bread” in Denmark?

Really, any cake or pastry can call itself a “Danish”, as the name is not a geographical indication like the protected names of Champagne, Feta cheese and Parma ham.

However, there is a few important distinct features, which makes the difference. For starters, a Danish Pastry is made of many layers of dough and vegetable margarine, making it light, flaky and voluminous. This guarantees a

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

great mouth-fell and makes it a perfect carrier for the different delicious fillings and toppings.

A helping hand More than 150 year ago, there was a strike among the employees of the many artisan bakers in Copenhagen. The master bakers where desperate to meet their costumers demands for sweet bread, but needed skilled employees to keep up production. Thus, they reached out to their colleagues in Vienna and asked for assistance. At this time, Vienna was “the place” for baked goods and many Danish bakers went there to train during their apprenticeship.

The help arrived and not only did the Danish bakers get the extra hands they needed, they also learned a new technique from their colleagues. With the lamination technique, JANUARY-MARCH 2015

DENMARK

where thin layers of fat is rolled out between thin layers of wheat dough, a unique new texture was created. Today the same technique has let to both puff pastry and the French croissant.

Danish Pastry Once the strike had ended, the Danish bakers kept working on this new technique. The breakthrough came when they laminated the dough with margarine and got a light, flaky pastry dough, which they combined with sweet fillings of jams, custards and the traditional sweet Danish filling called “remonce”. It was a complex process to laminate the dough perfectly and it required both expertise and good ingredients, thus the pastry was very exclusive. The pastry became a huge success and to honor the origin of the technique they called it “Wienerbrød” which is Danish for “Vienna bread”.

The popular and unique pastry then began to spread to other countries. In the late 19th

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

U P D AT E

69

century, many Danes immigrated to America, taking the Danish artisan baker traditions with them. They would open bakeries under traditional Danish surnames like “The Olsen Bakery” and hence the pastry became known as “Danish Pastry”.

The secret The secret is that even today, with all its modern technology and equipment, you still need the knowledge and understanding of the traditional artisan craftsmanship to master the lamination technique. As complex as the process might be, just as simple is the pleasure of biting into a mouthwatering light and flaky Danish Pastry with your favorite filling.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

TURKEY

70

TURKEY ATTRACTS FOREIGN INVESTORS

T

urkey is a country of agricultural origin whose agricultural output shows significant increases every year. Historicaly, the agricultural sector has been Turkey's largest employer and major contributor to the country's GDP, exports and industrial growth.

However, as the country has developed, agriculture has declined in importance relative to the rapidly growing industrial sector.

Turkey is the largest producer and exporter of agriculture products in the Near East and North African region.

Also, Turkey's vast agricultural potential, offers an extensive range of fruits such as grapes, figs, olives, apricots, sour cherries and strawberries and vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, leeks, peppers and onions which can be preserved by different methods and presented in a variety of ways.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

U P D AT E

Dried fruits and edible nuts, tomato paste and other tomato products, canned fruits and vegetables, frozen fruits and vegetables, dehydrated vegetables and fruit juice are regarded as the most important sectors under this heading. These sectors include items making up the majority of Turkey's total export revenues both from agriculture and agroindustry. The products of the dried fruits and edible nuts sector, which are very important for the Turkish economy, are hazelnuts, raisins, dried figs and dried apricots. These products are regarded as traditional agricultural export products of Turkey. Especially, hazelnut, raisins, dried figs and dried apricots have been the products representing Turkish production and quality for years.

The production of canned fruit and vegetables is mostly parallel to national and international demand. Canned sour cherries, canned peaches, canned okra, canned peas, mixed vegetables and canned beans hold the largest share in canned fruit and vegetable exports.

The fruit juice and concentrate industry has become one of the progressive agroindustry sectors in Turkey. This exportoriented industry has flourished rapidly due to the modern production units, new investments and strong support of abundant fresh fruit production. Fruit juices of various types (concentrated, mixed, sweetened etc.) are very popular primarily because of their nutrient content. The products of this sector are also good alternatives to carbonated beverages. The species processed into fruit juice and concentrates are apples, pears, apricots, peaches, oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, sour cherries, strawberries, pomegranates and grapes.

Turkey's food and beverage industry has been one of the most attractive areas for foreign investors. It has attracted tremendous amount of foreign direct investment (FDI), attracting around USD 4 billion over the past ten years, as it offers lucrative investment opportunities to global investors.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

UAE

72

SPECIALIST IN AGRICULTURE & ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION

A

l Dahra Agriculture being a leading company specializing in agriculture and animal feed production, it has witnessed unmatched growth in terms of the geographic footprint, product and service offering development as well as customer base expansion. In less than two decades, we have transformed from a local Abu Dhabi based company to a multinational organization with presence across four continents. Al Dahra's main goal is to maintain the momentum it has achieved over the past years in terms of growth and expansion and to continue to execute its strategic road map and plans. Beyond commercial growth and success, we are fully committed to our partnership with the government in the Strategic Food Security program ensuring continuous and undisrupted food supply to the nation at reasonable prices and with the highest quality parameters.

The strategic vision of the UAE government has generated multiple business opportunities and has always been the key driver for our success, and it will continue to be at the core of

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

U P D AT E

our future growth plans. At Al Dahra Agriculture, we have a unique value proposition and service offering that sets us apart from competitors in the market place.

Unlike common traders and importers, we own and operate our own lands, production facilities and factories, which allows us to fully control the operations and the quality of our end-products. In addition, we have a strong logistics arm with a highly specialized warehousing and distribution infrastructure that supports the delivery of our products' seamlessly to customers wherever they are located. Furthermore, Al Dahra has pioneered the development of the agricultural business in the UAE and the region through continuous investments in this important economic sector, by concentrating on ongoing research, development, importation of expertise, and finally bringing the best industry practices to this part of the world. Additionally, the company's commitment to eco-friendly operations and preservation of natural resources notably in water has been one of its key differentiators.

Lastly, the company's strategy is to diversify its offering by introducing new verticals and business lines — such as Chemicals for instance — which will mainly be realized through an active pipeline of international joint ventures and acquisition opportunities. Al Dahra's strategy is to grow organically by expanding its commercial business base with focus on its current product range of forage, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, rice production and retail. The company offering products such as wheat, flour and sugar is with intent to build a regional production and distribution hub in Abu Dhabi, aiming to serve the UAE and the wider Middle East and Africa as a whole. Al Dahra Agriculture and its subsidiary “Etihad Mills” has recently acquired a total of 20 silos at a strategically locatedl and adjacent to the port of Fujairah resulting in direct access to the port. Moreover, six of the silos are used for the storage of rice, each having an estimated storage capacity of 14000 MT, as well as 14 grain silos, each having an estimated storage capacity of 10000 MT with a total of 24000 MT.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

TASTE THE TASTE OF THE PALACE

NATIONAL PAINT R/A, KALBA ROAD, AL WADI BLDG., SHARJAH, U.A.E. T E L : 0 6 5 4 2 7 3 3 7 / 5 4 2 7 3 3 8 , FA X : 0 6 5 6 1 3 7 0 1

E-mail: hira.rest@gmail.com

GERMAN

74

U P D AT E

iba — THE GUIDE TO THE ENTIRE SECTOR

T

he countdown has begun for the next iba which will take place from 12-17 September 2015 in Munich, Germany. At the world's leading trade fair for bakery, confectionery and snacks, exhibitors from around the world will showcase the most important novelties of the sector.

The iba is the must-attend event for bakers and confectioners of all company sizes as well as for restaurateurs and decision makers in the food retailing industry,” says Dieter Dohr, CEO and President of the trade fair organization GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH. “The trade fair offers a comprehensive market overview, shows bakers and confectioners current and future developments, and shows the entire sector the way for the upcoming three years.”

In 2012, iba was attended by 70,000 bakers and pastry chefs and attracted visitors from a total of 164 countries. Besides Germany, the highest numbers of visitors came from Austria, Russia, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, the USA, Turkey, UK and Switzerland. Stands were hosted by 1,255 companies in twelve halls, spanning a total area of 132,000m2.

The spectrum of the products and services presented at iba ranges from resources and production technology through to process optimisation, packaging solutions, IT and cashier systems to out-of-home eating, professional clothing, as well as shop and sales fittings. Additionally, special shows and international competitions as well as the iba

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

forum and the iba summit will have numerous lectures and live demonstrations by well-known experts. “In addition to the areas of packaging, hygiene, and coffee, snacks will be a special subject at the iba this year,” Dohr reveals.

The fact that the trade fair is taking place from 12-17 September should be of particular appeal for professional visitors as the world famous Oktoberfest will begin in Munich only two days after.

For more information visit www.iba.de/en/home/

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

COLOMBIA

COLOMBIAN CHOCOLATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

S

ince the end of last year, CasaLuker — a Colombian enterprise with over 100 years of experience in the South American chocolate market — entered the Dubai market with its 100% Cacao Fino de Aroma Chocolate Couvertures. The well-known chef Pascal Clair, a true Seven Star Chef and world renown for his outstanding skills as a Master Patisserie is in charge of spreading the word about the Colombian Fino de Aroma products: he is the official distributor for CasaLuker Food Ingredients for Middle East. Hotels and restaurant such as the Westin Hotel, Burj Al Arab and Sofitel are now using some of their products.

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

U P D AT E

77

With the aim of reaching the best chocolatiers and pastry chefs from Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain CasaLuker and Pascal have started the commercialization of four different chocolate couvertures of their CasaLuker Cacao brand made with selected beans from Colombia, 100% cocoa butter and natural vanilla. These dark, milk and white chocolate couvertures are perfect for professionals in the Food Service market willing to try the strength and goodness of Colombian Fino de Aroma Cocoa. www.lukeringredients.com For More information: Pascal Clair - pascal@pascalclair.com CasaLuker - lukercacao@casaluker.com.co Follow us: /LUKERFOODINGREDIENTS @LUKEROFFICIAL

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

ARGENTINA

78

U P D AT E

THE F&B INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTING TO THE ARGENTINE ECONOMY

A

rgentina is one of the world's largest food producers. Eating and drinking play an important role in Argentinian culture, as meals are a time where friends and family get together. Mealtimes are an unhurried and often a sit-down affair, although a fast food culture does exist in cities. Drinking herbal tea (yerba-mate) is popular and is usually a social activity. Argentina is home to an impressive selection of regions where wine is produced, and it is also famous for its meat produce.

Argentinian cuisine has diverse influences, but much of it has its roots in Italian cooking.

Pasta, meats, potatoes, and desserts are features of many meals. Meat, especially beef, is a large part of the cuisine. Food is often boiled, grilled and stewed. Very little food is fried in Argentina, making for a generally lowfat diet. There is a great variety in regional dishes, as produce and preparation methods differ from region to region.

The F&B industry is one of the main activities

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST

contributing to the Argentine economy, accounting for 33% of Argentina's total exports. As a major grain and oilseed producer, Argentina plays a key role in the international trade scenario.

Many of the food products manufactured in the country come from commodity production, and undergo further processing using basic raw materials, such as milk, and also other inputs with additional technological significance, such as edible oils.

The F&B industry includes both national and multinational companies and associations of representatives from various entities as well, which contribute to the production and distribution of high-quality foods in the domestic and foreign market.

The following primary trends are currently being followed by the local F&B industry: F&B companies are continuously launching new products through their research and development (R&D) departments; there are important investments in technology updates; local production capacity is being used fully, JANUARY-MARCH 2015

ARGENTINA

which requires additional investments to supply the growing food demand; “Health and Nutrition� is a very strong concept in F&B supply and demand; and greater interaction between the local industry and universities is being carried out, fostering innovations.

The best opportunities for suppliers of food ingredients are among those F&B manufacturing companies that offer high-value and novelty products to the consumer. The industry sub-sectors with a higher demand for these types of products are bakery products, confectionery products, condiments, seasonings, and spices, dairy products nonalcoholic beverages, snack foods, dried processed products, ready meals and sauces.

Bottled Water of Argentina Patagonia is the name of a vast territory in the southern cone of South America shared by Argentina and Chile. Fernando de Magallanes gave it the name in 1520 and chronicles of several sea explorers gave to this land an aura of mystery.

The general character of the Argentine portion of Patagonia is for the most part a

JANUARY-MARCH 2015

U P D AT E

79

region of vast steppe-like plains, rising in a succession of abrupt terraces about 330 feet at a time, and covered with an enormous bed of shingle almost bare of vegetation. In the hollows of the plains are ponds or lakes .

Towards the Andes the shingle gives place to porphyry, granite, and basalt lavas, animal life becomes more abundant and vegetation more luxuriant, acquiring the characteristics of the flora of the western coast, and consisting principally of southern beech and conifers.

During 2012, total bottled water volume sales increased by 2%, driven mainly by flavoured and still bottled water. The category performed well, although growth was below the review period average of 3%. Flavoured bottled water also experienced very high growth during the review period, as it has only recently been introduced.

FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST