Del Monte is planning to acquire farms in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, to add to its current UAE and Turkey sites, and is planning new regional product launches at Gulfood.
Cargill may consider establishing an application centre in Dubai as part of its regional strategy, as it sees demand for advanced R&D increasing, according to its regional chair.
Saudi Arabia’s Salic investment body has bought a 19.95% stake in Brazilian beef producer, Minerva, for US$188.4m, following the kingdom’s lifting of a ban on Brazilian beef.
Brazilian food producers have closed more than US$9m in new export deals to the Middle East in the last two months, as Brazil’s trade body plans to exhibit at more Arab trade shows.
Allboxes Direct launches bio based polymer packaging
Allboxes Direct, which works with Baked By Melissa, Milkbar, Farmigo, and Jacques Torres Chocolates, has launched a bio based polymer packaging to replace petroleum based polymers for the manufacture and production of plastic packaging.
Scottish premium rapeseed oil producers are looking to the Middle East for export growth, as they reap the benefits of a new export collaboration project and rising olive oil prices.
Russian chocolate-maker Goldberg is planning to establish a factory in the UAE, as it targets the Middle East and North Africa as its first major export market.
Regional food producers are holding back on new investments, but those who are spending are looking for novelty in chocolate and dates products, according to Jaffan Trading and Marketing.
Almarai has installed a 37,000 bird-per-hour poultry processing line from Ishida, the Japanese firm announced, as it revealed it also made an on-floor sale at Gulfood Manufacturing.
Marel has joined with Dutch Protein & Services (DPS) to offer a five-step coating solution delivering healthier, crispier meat products with a home-prepared appearance for oven cooking.
Far from the frenetic madness of its parent show in February, Gulfood Manufacturing nevertheless has its own, slightly geeky, energy – and it clearly means business.
Tetra Pak has opened its first Customer Innovation Centre in Dubai, with six more around the world to follow by 2017, the company announced last week at Gulfood Manufacturing.
Irish food body Bord Bía participated in Dubai’s Gulfood Manufacturing last week for the first time, with a relaxation of restrictions on Irish beef and sheep meat exports to Oman boosting activity.
Tate & Lyle launched a menu of Middle Eastern recipes with a healthier twist at Gulfood Manufacturing, in Dubai last week (October 27–29) to tackle the growing number of consumers in the region who are concerned about rising obesity levels.
Scottish premium chocolate startup iQ Chocolate will shortly start exporting its products to Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai after signing a series of distribution deals.
Jordan’s Royal Health Awareness Society will implement Nestlé’s “Ajyal Salima” or Healthy Kids programme, which promotes nutrition and health education to children, the firm announced.
Thompson Reuters has cut its growth forecast for the global Halal food market, saying the market will grow to just under US$1.6tn by 2020, instead of 2018 as predicted last year.
Reka, one of Turkey’s largest edible oil processors, has secured a €45m loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to help it expand its operations.
Australia’s meat exports to the Middle East are booming, up 11% year-on-year in 2014-15 and up 5% in the first six months of this fiscal year alone, according to the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Saudi’s Savola Group has formed a joint venture with Thai Union Frozen, one of the world’s largest seafood processors, to bring new seafood products to the Middle East, targeting US$400m in sales.
Moldovan lamb exports have suffered as a result of armed conflicts in Libya, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, according to a report from the association of sheep and goat breeders in the country.
British firm Lewis Pies will start exporting a range of frozen pies to the Middle East after signing a new sales and distribution agreement with the Yearsley Group.
Australia needs to focus more on the Middle East as a long-term beef export destination, according to Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Suzannah Moss-Wright, as exports to the region climb.
Ukraine expects to double poultry meat exports by 2018 and boost export growth for other meats off the back of increased trade with the Middle East and South-East Asia.
The Middle East’s share of Brazilian beef giant Minerva’s foreign sales slipped in Q2 to 16% of exports, while competitor JBS saw its MEA exports grow compared to other regions.
Saudi Arabia remains the most attractive food and beverage market ahead of Egypt, with food consumption growth of 7.6% this year, says a new BMI report.
Scottish food and drink exports to the Middle East grew 20% year-on-year in 2014 to US$350m, and have nearly doubled since 2007, with fish and seafood leading the growth.
Botanicals are the fastest growing nutraceutical ingredient class in a category being driven by ageing populations around the world, a report has found.
Imports of Brazilian eggs by Middle Eastern buyers grew 41% in the first half of the year, with sales totalling US$6.9m, according to the Brazilian government.
Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) pitched itself as a one-stop Halal hub at a road show in Japan this month, while the UAE is still working towards finalising its Halal standards.
Nestlé has released its first corporate accountability report for the region, and promises to cut waste, improve children’s health and reduce salt and sugar in its products.
Belgian chocolate maker Godiva is planning to open around a dozen new stores in the GCC by the end of the year, as it capitalises on its recently-established direct presence.
A Saudi delegation complimented Brazilian beef facilities this month after a long-awaited inspection, the clearest indication yet that the kingdom will lift its import ban.
Russia’s Halal industry is working to grow its exports to the Middle East, as the country signs a meat-for-grain deal with Iran, and Belarus is set to start UAE beef shipments.
British snack maker The London Deli Company is planning to open its first Middle East store and is ramping up its operation to cope with increased regional demand.
Government food subsidies may contribute to high rates of child stunting in the Middle East, according to research by the International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri).
Omani bottled water producer Barzman National has increased its production capacity to cope with rising demand, adding a new 22,000 bottle-per-hour line to its facilities.
Ukraine poultry giant MHP saw exports of chicken fall by 14% to 26,050 tonnes (t) in the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period last year, according to an official report from the company.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City has bagged two new food clients, with Malaysian snack maker Mamee and Saudi cold storage firm Abdullah Abbar and Sons planning facilities in the city.
Brazilian exporters have seen mixed results in the Middle East in Q1, with BRF’s regional revenues growing 15%, while Minerva Foods saw a sharp drop in export volumes.
Egyptian bakery manufacturer Edita has embarked on an aggressive regional expansion drive across the Middle East and North Africa after acquiring the rights to Hostess Brands’ Hoho’s, Twinkies and Tiger Tail brands in 12 new countries.
Silver Fern Farms is rolling out its high-end chilled New Zealand beef and lamb ranges to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, citing growing consumer demand for premium, natural meat products.
Saudi Arabia prepares to lift its ban on Brazilian beef, as Saudi and Brazilian trade officials are working to ease food import procedures with a series of new agreements.
