Gulfood Sets Records In Attendance And Number Of Foodservice Equipment Exhibitors

A record crowd turned out for the 21st edition of Gulfood, February 21-25, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

More than 90,000 visitors from 160 countries strolled the exhibitor aisles where more than 5,000 companies representing 120 countries displayed food, beverages, and hospitality products and service.

Most notably, the show hosted its largest-ever collection of foodservice/catering and hospitality suppliers. The expanded focus comes as the number of foodservice outlets in the UAE is expected to double by 2020—when Dubai hopes to receive 20 million tourists as host to Expo Dubai 2020.

The show also served as a global trading platform, with 117 national and food export industry groups hosting pavilions. Spain launched its biggest ever Gulfood campaign, rolling out a vast array of hospitality and catering equipment; Japan expanded its pavilion by 150%; and France showcased 28 foodservice equipment providers in a pavilion helmed by experts in the Saudi Arabian, Lebanese, Egyptian, Indian and Kenyan markets.

The five-day event also included the third edition of Halal World Food—the world’s biggest annual halal food-sourcing trade event—and an exhibitor line-up of finished food producers, bulk commodity wholesalers, distributors and exporters.

Next year’s Gulfood show is February 26-March, 2017 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.