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Gulfood 2006 closes on a record high note

E.D.A.M., a UAE company specialising in meat products, claimed great success with over Dh7.3 million in deals completed at Gulfood, with buyers from Canada, Australia and the Czech Republic. Equipment manufacturers and distributors have also been realising excellent business growth from the event.

"I am a six-time exhibitor at Gulfood and have had another successful year with two deals signed on the third day worth a total of Dh2 million," said Waiel Mansoor, Owner of Jackson Vending, a UAE company specialising in vending and coffee machines.

From the trade visitor perspective a commentator said: "I was driving home to downtown Chicago when I had a call from my client saying I should go to Dubai to check out Gulfood. 72 hours later I was here," said Thomas P. McNeely, Stevenson & Company, Illinois.

"I am here as a Mergers and Acquisitions financial adviser looking for opportunities, for my client — a Halal Foodstuffs Producer — for joint ventures in the region. With no prior knowledge of Dubai and what to expect I have been exceptionally pleased to have had a number of excellent high-level discussions with serious companies," added McNeely.

Gulfood's popularity and success has been proven by its consistent expansion and development and this year it has more than exceeded its objectives of attracting over 30,000 trade buyers.

Organiser, Dubai World Trade Centre, has announced that final figures will be released shortly.

The increase in the number of trade visitors have come from new countries — totalling over 135 — including Tonga, Zambia, Malta, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Botswana, Estonia and the Bahamas.

New exhibitors to Gulfood 2006 also claimed the event was a great success.

"We are proud to be the first and only Palestinian company at Gulfood 2006. Our participation at Gulfood has exceptionally successful, and through it we were able to meet several companies interested in distributing and marketing our products in the region," said Ziad Anabtawi, Chairman, Al 'Ard for Extra Virgin Olive Oil, part of the Anabtawi Group, Palestine.

Companies such as Desmon/ABT Metal and Rational have doubled their floor space for 2007 in order to keep pace with the growth of business generated at Gulfood with Sadia and National Food Industries even tripling their floor space. In fact, the organiser reported that 75pc of the existing show has already been re-booked for next year. In response to the demand from industry, Gulfood 2007 will expand by 10,000 square metres.