Brazilian food processor Marfrig is planning to set up its first factory in the Middle East within the next five years, with Saudi Arabia the most likely location.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) is courting Brazilian companies as it promotes its new Halal zones on a promotional tour of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
Non-stick coating bakeware specialist FBS Prestige has seen phenomenal demand from the Middle East as the country’s bakery sector evolves, its CEO and chairman says.
The regional plastics industry must innovate and offer more value-added products in order to thrive in the food setors and others, an industry leader said this week.
Australian agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce led a delegation to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain this week to boost Australian agricultural trade with the region, following problems with live sheep imports.
Brazilian food exports to the Middle East jumped significantly in 2013 to total a record US$5.3bn and 17bn tonnes, according to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
The Middle East gluten-free market is nascent but brimming with potential thanks to a young and wealthy consumer base increasingly interested in health and wellness, market experts say.
Rising health awareness and the expansion of Middle East’s hotel industry is creating a growing demand for white tea, a key official at Sri Lankan tea maker Dilmah said.
The Middle East drinks industry is seeing significant investment, with Aujan spending in Egypt and Lebanon, and UK firm Rexam buying up a Saudi can manufacturer for US$122m.
tna sells its first intelli-flav 3 CLS into US and Iraq
An open mind and real interest in local culture can make the difference between success and failure for companies looking to enter local markets, says Ingredion’s new EMEA vice president and general manager Martin Sonntag.
Gluten-free and dairy-free are the new buzzwords in the Middle East’s bakery market, as consumers look for ‘healthier’ bakery products, industry sources have said.
Amid rumours that Saudi Arabia’s ban on the import of US beef could be lifted in April, small American beef producers say they have already ceded valuable ground to countries like Australia and Canada.
A rapidly aging population, a hot climate and clothing restrictions owing to Islam are making the Middle East the right kind of market for calcium-enriched mineral water, according to one German-based company.
A trade mission made of agricultural leaders from around the US is en route to the Middle East and Europe in a bid to develop further export opportunities for beef, pork and lamb.
Vita Coco, the top-selling coconut water brand in the US and UK, is now entering the high-potential Middle East beverage market, one of its key executives has revealed.
An Indian conglomerate and a Saudi prince have teamed up with plans to make Dubai a regional hub for basmati rice—the leading food imports from the subcontinent to the Middle East.
Malaysia is actively looking at the UAE as a gateway for entering the potentially high value halal markets in North Africa, Middle East and Europe, a top Malaysian government official revealed.
Currently the Middle East represents just over 3% of Brazilian confectionery exports, but potential far exceeds that, according to Brazil's industry trade association.
The acquisition of Pringles back in 2012 has tripled the scale of Kellogg in some emerging markets – completely changing the nature of business, its CEO says.
The Middle East is grappling with a rise in non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, the roots of which are in a rise in obesity among its populace, a new study has found.
Demand for baby food in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has grown phenomenally over the past few years, with growth expected to spiral over the next three years, a new report has suggested.
The Middle East has some of the fastest rising levels of diabetes in the world, presenting opportunities for bakery manufacturers to develop healthier bread products, says a Euromonitor analyst.
By John Giles, divisional director, Promar International
Although the New Year has come and gone, there is still the opportunity to both look back and forwards to see what has happened in the past 12 months and what might happen in the next 12.
Two Gulf investment vehicles have bought major stakes in Turkish food producers in recent weeks, as Turkey positions itself as a major halal food producer.
Australian beef and veal exporters have been buoyed by data from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) showing record export numbers for the industry in 2013. The country exported nearly 1.1 million tonnes (t) of chilled...
The Middle East is now increasingly shunning live imports of cattle and sheep and demanding high value cuts of red meat, say exporters from India and Australia.
Greek yogurt manufacturer KRI-KRI does not expect to experience any supply issues in or outside Greece as a result of the fire that tore through its Serres yogurt production plant on Christmas Eve.
The Middle East flexible packaging market is set to grow by 4.3% a year over the next five years, up from 2.5% according to a new report from PCI Films Consulting.
The Middle East’s non-alcoholic beer market is ripe for beverage makers to tap into, provided they continue to innovate to adapt to the vagaries of the region’s culture and Islam-dominated societies, an expert said.
McDonald’s has said it will strive toward the development of harmonised halal standards across the Middle East, as it reaffirmed its commitment to various requirements in place.
Earlier this year, Oman embarked on one of the most ambitious food production projects in the Middle East when it announced plans to invest US$1.29bn in fisheries development from 2013 to 2020.
Portuguese fruit preparations firm Frulact Group has agree to sell its 51% controlling stake in its Algerian joint venture, withdrawing from unit in July.
The first Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi early next year, aiming to turn the spotlight on the future of agriculture in the region.
Breaking into the food and beverage market can be a challenge for many start-up companies, leading many businesses to either sink without a trace or opt for the franchise market rather than set up from scratch.
Food security in the Middle East could be under threat due to continuing political instability in the region, according to a report from Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Low/non-alcoholic beer is the fastest growing beer category of the past five years, with a 7% volume CAGR, although off a low base, according to a Euromonitor International analysis.
At the end of October, Ireland’s dairy sector finally flexed its muscles in the Middle East dairy market when the Irish Dairy Board Cooperative (IDB) announced a €20m investment in Saudi Arabia.
