Uno Chicago Grill, Pizza Hut, Round Table Pizza and California Pizza Kitchen are just a handful of pizzerias that have recently researched expansion in Dubai and other key Middle Eastern markets. Now their executives and others looking to get in on the hot nontraditional market have both a trade show and interactive conference tailored to the area's food and beverage sector.
In response to overwhelming demand, Gulfood, Dubai's largest trade exhibition for food, drink, food service and hospitality equipment, is launching the inaugural Gulfood Conference, according to a company statement.
The Conference, titled "Global Trends in Food, Beverage and Processing," will run alongside Gulfood, which takes place from Feb. 21 – 24, 2010, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
"Gulfood is the largest trade exhibition in the Middle East and is the gateway for penetration into the entire Middle East, North Africa and India regions," according to Tara Rogers, spokesperson. "The highly developed infrastructure in Dubai in terms of logistics, trading platform, minimal bureaucracy, low taxation and geographical proximity makes the city an attractive and highly successful hub."
The four-day conference and knowledge exchange forum will offer delegates unprecedented access to the experts, analysts and visionaries who are shaping the business and developing the marketing strategies that will lead food, beverage and hospitality businesses into the next decade.
"In addition to being the most important trade exhibition in the region for the food, beverage and hospitality industry, which showcases the latest products, services and technological breakthroughs, the Gulfood Conference has enormous value for companies who want to meet and learn from the experts, business leaders and the market analysts," said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, organizer of Gulfood. "Not only will the Gulfood Conference provide valuable industry insight to allow companies to build a more profitable business, it will also offer practical tools for invigorating, expanding and launching new business channels."
The intensive, information-packed agenda will cover topical issues facing all sectors of the industry, including global trends in foods, regulatory legislation, globalization, regional expansion opportunities, sustainability, flavors and consumer behaviors, scientific advances in food technology and innovations in packaging.
Keynote speaker Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Export Development Corp., will open the conference and highlight Dubai's credentials and the business opportunities that are abound in the region.
Global issues to be discussed include successful franchising, the health and wellness industry, the future of food fortification, innovation in food packaging, global trends in both raw materials and finished goods and what flavors will appeal to the next generation.
With practical case study experience and step-by-step advice on cost reduction, process management and profit generation, the Gulfood Conference has been designed to provide industry professionals with precisely the information they require to steer their businesses through unsettled or even uncharted territory.
Gulfood is strictly a trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors from within the industry only. Conference sessions cost just AED 300 per session if booked onsite, but delegates can register for the Gulfood Conference now and save more than 30 percent by visiting www.gulfood.com/business. Delegates will also receive free entry into the exhibition.
