Foodservice operators and suppliers from the region will be offered an opportunity to preview the latest business solutions and trends, said the organisers of an upcoming food service trade show in Abu Dhabi.

They will also be able to network with commercial contacts in the industry, said Maggie Moore, event director of Gulf à la Carte, running from November 21 to 23 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

“Industry professionals involved in creating and managing restaurants, clubs and cafes will now have a professional business platform to add value to their business and to forge key partnerships for the future,” Moore said.

Organised by Turret Media and in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), the show is co-located with SIAL Middle East 2011, part of the world’s largest food industry event franchise.

Gulf à la Carte will cater to the needs of front of house management across all sectors of the food and beverage service industry and will include all operational aspects through three featured zones: technology, equipment and design, a statement said.

The UAE is currently host to some 11,000 stand alone restaurants, and this figure is expected to increase by approximately 500 per year.

At the same time, there are another 216 hotels in the UAE’s active development pipeline over the next few years, and they will include at least another additional 650 – 700 food and beverage outlets.

“The active growth of the region’s food and beverage service industry sees the demand for trade shows such as Gulf à la Carte in a city that is the connecting hub of the Middle East,” Moore added.

“The overwhelming response to the last year’s launch of SIAL Middle East demonstrates clearly that Abu Dhabi presents an opportunity of great interest to manufacturers hungry for new markets.”

Mohamed Jalal Al Reyaysa, director of communication and community service at ADFCA, said: "We believe any dynamic platform that brings together people from the food industry in the region will go much beyond the requirements of business.”

“Instilling more dynamism into the industry through initiatives such as Gulf à la Carte will go a long way in the overall development of the sector, including improved food safety and increased sensitivity to the needs and aspirations of the consumers," he added.

Gulf à la Carte will feature the first regional food and beverage congress, sales and marketing solutions clinics and a set of round table discussions addressing key issues in the sector.

The regional food and beverage congress will offer an insight into important topical issues and will demonstrate, discuss and analyze international and local industry trends and developments.

An exclusive hosted buyer programme will see national and international owners, operators, managers, decision makers and purchasing professionals brought to the event, all looking to find new solutions in this dynamic and fast growing industry sector. – TradeArabia News Service