F&B industry players look to more healthy eating solutions

The Expo Culinaire 2020 event brought together over 2,000 chefs from around the world.

Various players across the food and beverage (F&B) industry in the UAE, and the GCC region, are looking to increase their focus and production of healthy foods, in line with growing consumer demands, experts said at the second edition of the Expo Culinaire exhibition.
The Expo Culinaire 2020 event was opened by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) on Tuesday at Expo Centre Sharjah. Organised by Purple Kitchen Events, the show brought together over 2,000 chefs from around the world to showcase their expertise in the culinary arts, along with 200 exhibitors that specialise in cooking and food preparation, hospitality, service and equipment, bakery, warehousing, refrigeration systems, cutlery, and kitchen accessories. The event also saw the launch of the 23rd edition of the Emirates International Salon Culinaire, which is organized by the Emirates Culinary Guild. The three-day event is an important opportunity for businesses and investors to learn about the latest developments, sign partnerships, and conclude F&B deals.
"For the second year in a row, we are hosting the Emirates International Salon Culinaire, something which consolidates the relationship between the Expo Culinaire and hospitality professionals," said Abdullah Sultan Al Owais. "Additionally, this event is providing a perfect platform for young Emirati talents to show up in front of a global audience of their chefs' counterparts. The Expo Culinaire is also playing a key role in supporting career development and sharing skills and knowledge."
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ivana Provasio, managing director at Ora Et Labora, an Italian B2B company that specialises in introducing Italian brands to the UAE, revealed that consumers in the UAE are increasingly paying attention to the quality of the products that they are consuming; this is in line with global trends.
"We are focused on providing products that are all natural, gluten-free, non-GMO, and with no harmful preservatives," she said. "People are very careful about the amount and type of sugars that they are consuming. Our target demographics include vegetarians and vegans. Lately, over the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of people that are intolerant to certain foods, and this means that we have had to shift towards ensuring that we are cutting out bad ingredients such as hydrogen added fats that are very bad for the heart. Our products are trusted around the world because of their quality. Several hotels and cafes around the UAE, including the Burj Al Arab, are using our products, especially our Caffitaly coffee machines. We are always focused on the feedback that we are getting from our partners, and from the chefs that are interacting with our brands."
Similarly, Srishti Singh, assistant manager of Sales at Fit Fresh, spoke about consumers and how their perception of certain foods and beverages has changed over time, as they become aware about their ingredients and health benefits.
"There is a shift towards fresh and healthy foods in the market," she said. "Increasingly, people are going to supermarkets and opting to grab a container of fresh fruit salad that has several health benefits over other items. Keep in mind that they are also focused on convenience since it is easier to grab a ready-to-eat fresh fruit salad as compared to buying crates of fruits and cutting them up at home. In addition, we have also seen an increase in the number of companies that have approached us to provide healthy food options to their employees at the office, because they know that their employees are focused on their health."
One segment that has grown significantly, she said, is the fresh fruit juice and mixtures segment. While fresh fruit juices are always a popular choice, Fit Fresh is increasingly looking to launch new drink mixtures that include healthy ingredients such as turmeric and aloe vera.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com