French Culinary Innovations Take Center Stage Once Again At Gulfood 2019

Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, will be exhibiting across 4 French pavilions at Gulfood 2019. The region’s renowned F&B trade show will showcase products of over 70 French brands and companies. This year, many of them that introduced their products in the year’s past are returning, whilst new companies have come on board to present their new offerings in the world of F&B.

France renews its participation to Gulfood this year to offer the region the best F&B products while introducing new brands and the latest developments from other popular and well-established companies. On an area of 900 square meters, 4 sections will be dedicated to showcase a variety of the exhibitors categorized by dairy products in Hall 1, meat & poultry in Hall 3, beverages in Za’beel Hall and world food in Sheikh Saed Hall.

The Middle East market is gaining importance for France and this year’s strong French participation in Gulfood demonstrates that fact.  More than 1,4 billion USD were exported directly into the GCC area, with Saudi Arabia being the 17^th market for French savoir-faire and UAE as the 24^th. Imports into the UAE from France have grown by over 213 % since 2010 to reach more than USD 446 million in 2017. France is the second largest European supplier to the UAE F&B sector.

Globally, France is a key player in numerous F&B segments and has a variety of product ranges that are well tailored for the region. Out of the most famous are the dairy and the bakery sectors. It is also a worldwide leading country in breeding cattle, sheep, goat and poultry holds, whose sector forms a large portion of the country’s gross national product.

European leader in fruit & vegetable (with an average of 9 millions of tons produced per year), France leads by investing in innovation, to exploit the benefits of these products in terms of a healthy and responsible diet and to increase consumer orientation towards health, well-being, authenticity and biodiversity.

French foodstuff companies specializing in such products will particularly be of focus at Gulfood 2019.

Marc Cagnard, Managing Director at Business France Middle East stated: “In France the F&B export industry is vital for our sustainability and it is something we work on and produce with passion. We will be bringing this passion once again to Gulfood with our participation in 2019. We have been strong supporters of this trade show since 1987 and will continue our commitment to foster everlasting F&B business between France and the region. Our returning and new exhibitors are very excited to present some of their latest products that have been launched and to meet with prospective partners from across the region”.                                                                                           

Food industry is the first industrial sector in France. As a traditional strength of the French economy, it is the 6^th largest direct exporter worldwide with USD 68.5 billion; furthermore, a large range of products are traded by other market places, showing the importance of French production interest in making business.

French companies deem Gulfood as an essential part of the regional and global F&B landscape and many are keen to be represented in this year’s show. Key management and decision makers will be on the stands to meet with local partners & clients, confirm deals and to further expand on the growth of business between France and the various countries of region.

“Agri-food is France’s largest industry sector in terms of both revenue and jobs. By 2040, the global population is likely to be approaching 9 billion and the French agri-food market is estimated to be growing by an average of 4% a year, with health food alone set to grow 2.5% a year over the next three years”, Cagnard added.

This year, the regional partner agencies – DEV’UP Centre Val de Loire (Center of France), Hauts de France (North of France), Aquitaine Food Agency (South West of France) and Bretagne Commerce International (West of France) – will also be in attendance to support companies from their region during Gulfood.

Key partners with fine products contributing to the show’s success include EVIAN, the number one mineral water in the world and in the Middle East, BADOIT, the sparkling mineral water brand for fine dining and endorsed by top Chefs globally, and CAFES RICHARD, a traditional “French-style” coffee roaster linked to the French gastronomy, Art de Vivre and to Paris (the leader on its market).