The growing challenges faced by business owners of the beverage market in the Middle East and neighbouring regions will be discussed at the Gulfood Manufacturing 2015, later this month, in Dubai, UAE.

Gulfood Manufacturing, a trade exhibition for the food and beverage manufacturing, processing and packaging industry in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, will take place from October 27 to 29, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The beverage market in the region is growing at rates that are faster than many more mature markets around the world, said a statement.

These include an increasingly competitive market landscape comprising both home-grown and international beverage companies and concepts, rising operational costs, and the need to identify new business opportunities to generate new revenue streams, it said.

Gulfood Manufacturing provides an invaluable platform for the region’s beverage industry to source and secure solutions to these challenges from regional and international suppliers showcasing the latest product innovations and technologies, it added.  

According to market research company Euromonitor International, robust growth for the Middle East beverage industry has propelled the region’s sector from 20th in 2009 to 4th in the top emerging markets around the world.

While all categories continue to enjoy sustained year-on-year growth, health beverages are forecast to lead at 8.6 per cent. More modest in percentage forecast growth at 2.9 per cent year-on-year, the carbonated drinks category continues to dominate in terms of market share, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE as the largest consumers of carbonated soft drinks in the region, said the statement.

New business opportunities being showcased at Gulfood Manufacturing include franchise partnerships being offered by regional and international companies in the beverage sector, it added.

According to Euromonitor, health drinks have seen increased popularity in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria driven by consumers’ interest in healthy lifestyles and are sometime considered as status symbols by younger consumers.

Beverage innovations will also be showcased during the Next Generation Manufacturing conference – one of three conferences being held alongside Gulfood Manufacturing. The conference agenda on October 29, will include presentations on “Function Beverage Revolution – Defining the New Frontier” and will be presented by specialists from Fonterra and DuPont Nutrition & Health, and will include valuable insights into functional ingredients, leveraging local ingredients and flavors to boost business, and understanding what next generation beverages will contain.  

A GCC-focused presentation on beverage trends in the region will also be presented by James George, senior beverage analyst at Euromonitor International, with key focus on how to meet the demands of the Middle East customer, it added.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, exhibitions and events division, DWTC, said: “As the most comprehensive marketplace for the regional food and beverage industry to access the latest in innovation, technology and new business channels, the event is an essential event for all sectors in the trade to attend.” – TradeArabia News Service