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Gama spoke to Saeed Al Mansoori, IDEX Executive Director at ADNEC, ahead of the 2019 edition of SIAL Middle East.
What are your expectations for the 10th edition of SIAL Middle East?
We are very much looking forward to our 10th anniversary edition as we are expecting to draw over 1,000 exhibitors, with more than 30 country pavilions and over 20,000 industry experts from more than 50 countries. The event will also see significant growth from leading local, regional and international organisations working in the food industry. Dates and coffee will have a strong focus this year with the Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition happening again along with the UAE National Coffee Championships.
We are excited to be showcasing country pavilions from Brazil, China, India, Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Russia, Philippines, Canada, Greece, Poland, Thailand and Italy, as well as other pavilions at the Abu Dhabi Date Exhibition such as Sudan, Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. There will also be the opportunity to interact with top chefs and food professionals with Roaming Chefs, which will see daily guided tours by top chefs from around the world.
What should manufacturers do to be successful in the current economic and social climate?
Manufacturers need to continue to grow new business with new clients and providers while also keeping on trend with new, innovative products. Their focus should also be on researching and developing different ways of manufacturing food, and using technology or AI to boost their efficiency and establish more accurate procedures.
What key trends do you expect to shape food and drinks innovation in 2020?
We will continue to see plant-based menus including meat based substitutes, and many restaurants will have their own dedicated menu for plant-based items. Healthy snack alternatives will also continue to be popular, seeing more ingredients like beetroot and kale as alternative options to potato chips. Plant based milk will see even more options such as mung bean and avocado. Customers are also showing a continued interest in climate change and want more sustainable options when it comes to both packaging and ingredients, and this will also be a further trend for 2020.
About SIAL Middle East
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of The Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the tenth edition of SIAL Middle East, the exclusive regional food, beverage and hospitality trade event, will run from 9th to 11th December 2019 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
The event is organised by ADNEC, in collaboration with Comexposium and with a strategic partnership with The Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority.
Expected to draw the participation of over 1,000 exhibitors, more than 30 country pavilions and over 20,000 industry experts from more than 50 countries, the upcoming edition of the event is set to mark a significant growth in terms of participation from leading local, regional and international organisations working in the food industry.
