Gulfood exhibitor participation grows

Dubai: Gulfood 2011, the world's biggest annual trade show for the food and beverage industry, opens today with more than 3,800 exhibitors set for what is expected to be a record year.

Running until March 2 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the show is the biggest in the event's history, taking up more than one million square feet of exhibition space and leveraging its regional influence to highlight the latest trends, innovations and developments in the industry.

To cater to the huge demand, a new hall has been purpose built for Gulfood to increase the exhibition space by 48,437 square feet.

"The scale of this year's event is a clear indication of the world's focus on this region. Not only is it now the world's biggest annual industry event, we have been able to accommodate an unprecedented 1,400 new exhibitors keen to gain a presence in the world's biggest food import market. We are looking forward to record sales and business opportunities for exhibitors and visitors this year," said Hilal Saeed Al Merri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the exhibition.

With Restaurant and Café Middle East and Ingredients Middle East running co-located at Gulfood, the event covers the full spectrum of the industry, from ingredients to food processing, packaging, retail, hospitality and distribution.

Gulfood also plays a key role in knowledge exchange and education through the Gulfood Conference to provide delegates with invaluable information and insights from international experts, analysts and business leaders.

Chefs contest

Gulfood also hosts the annual Emirates International Salon Culinaire, a hotly contested competition organised by the Emirates Culinary Guild that sees 1,500 chefs' culinary skills assessed by an international panel of judges, as well as the annual Gulfood Awards which recognise the achievements and innovations of the region's food and drink industry.

Gulfood is strictly a trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors in the industry only. Complimentary registration is available in advance online.

Industry business professionals, on the day of the show, will be able to buy either a day pass for Dh75 or a four-day pass for Dh150.

Conference delegate rates are Dh950 per day, workshops are Dh650 each.

Prices include refreshments and a complimentary four-day pass to Gulfood.

Registration is available online at www.gulfood.com.

Gulfood is open from 11am to 7pm from today until March 1 and from 11am to 5pm on March 2.