Germany’s leading food and beverage (F&B) technology pioneers are set to showcase processing equipment and packaging machineries at the Gulfood Manufacturing  next month in Dubai.

The inaugural event will run from November 9 to 11 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

More than 100 leading German firms will take part in the country’s 1,900-sq-m pavilion to highlight the latest products and business improvement tools to heavyweight global buyers and regional companies facing increased demand for fully-automated, customised processing and packaging systems.

According to a ‘GCC Food Industry Report 2013’ by Alpen Capital, the Middle East’s fast-paced and hectic lifestyle has resulted in its populations spending less time on preparing elaborate meals and consuming an ever greater number of ready-to-eat, chilled, processed, canned, preserved and frozen food.

The growing appetite for processed foods – a trend supported by Frost & Sullivan findings which indicate processed or pre-packaged food now accounts for more than 50 per cent of the GCC food industry - has led to a renewed drive for efficient manufacturing equipment that increases productivity, reduces staffing costs and caters for more hygienic and sustainable processed goods.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, exhibitions and events management, DWTC, the organiser, said: “The heightened preference of regional residents to prefer food that takes less time and hassle to prepare presents significant business opportunities for private sector food manufacturers to explore regional expansion opportunities.

“The rise in regional demand for processed and packaged F&B products is already reflected in associated import growth of state-of-the-art food processing and packaging machinery.

“With Germany being a key source of some of the world’s finest, most advanced and highly-reliable F&B manufacturing machinery, the presence of more than 100 German companies at Gulfood Manufacturing endorses the show’s credentials as a platform for industry-leading firms to showcase their products to local, regional and international companies eyeing development of Middle East operations and revenue growth.”

According to VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, Middle East has become an important and promising market for German food processing and packaging machinery manufacturers.

The value of the sector-related imports across the region reached Dh6.49 billion ($1.76 billion) - with Germany exports contributing more than a sixth of the region’s imports last year.

Meanwhile, German exports of food processing and packaging machinery to the Middle East amounted to Dh1.27 billion - an increase of nine per cent on the previous year, while the UAE alone imported Dh1.16 million worth of food processing and packaging machinery - with Dh158 million of that coming from German manufacturers.

Vera Fritsche, advisor in the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, said: “Constant innovation and the use of the latest technologies are the reason that the German manufacturers of food processing and packaging machinery have expanded their international leading position.

"Significantly, the rising population as well as the positive developments happening across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, offer a huge potential for further growth of German exports form this sector.

"With the attendance of food and beverage manufacturers from these markets at Gulfood Manufacturing, not only does is present an excellent platform for the German companies to showcase their expertise, it will also drive their business.”

In addition to the core exhibitions, Gulfood will host the region’s largest-ever specialised ‘Hosted Buyer Programme’ in partnership with Tetra Pak. - TradeArabia News Service