A total of 218 companies from Spain will participate and showcase a vast array of hospitality and catering equipment at Gulfood 2016, the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade show, to be held next week, in Dubai, UAE.

The event will run from February 21 to 25, at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Under the umbrella of ICEX, the Spanish Trade and Investment body, and the Spanish Exporting Manufacturers Association for the Hospitality Industry (AFEHC), the Spanish Pavilion will have its participating companies spread out across 2,196 sq m of exhibition space at the event, said a statement.

This is the 12th consecutive Gulfood outing for both AFEHC in hospitality and catering equipment and ICEX in food and beverages, it added.

The Spanish pavilion will showcase products in more than 19 key sectors, including halal, dairy, gourmet, organic, meat, and coffee among others.

The Spaniards will present various equipment ranging from ice makers, fire-proof doors, food storage equipment and containers, to combi ovens, blast chillers, kitchenware, commercial washers and juicers,  as they look to capitalise on the UAE’s reputation as a major re-export hub and Dubai’s expanding transhipment outreach, it said.

The UAE food market is undergoing constant expansion with annual growth prospects of around 4-5 per cent on average. With 30 per cent of all food and food service imports to the UAE being re-exported, the country - and Dubai in particular - is the gateway to other markets across the Gulf and the Middle East. This makes trading here a highly attractive proposition, as it opens up access to 40 million inhabitants in the Gulf area, said a statement.

Rafael Olmos, president of AFEHC, said: “We have products and solutions for the entire hotel and restaurant operations chain including cooking, service and display, food handling, transportation and cleaning.”

“Under the umbrella brand Horeca Equipment from Spain, we will exhibit our latest innovations in equipment for the hotel, restaurant and catering industry that provide cutting-edge technical solutions, top quality, reliability, optimum performance and energy efficiency,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service