Food companies must continue to evolve the way they make and market their products for the region’s consumers, or face the possibility of being forced out of the market altogether, according to an industry consultant.
Many global food and beverage brands are turning to franchising as a blueprint for expansion, with franchised outlets now making up the lion’s share of the Middle Eastern food market.
Global ingredients and flavours company Kerry Group is the latest to step into the Middle East, in line with recent studies showing growing consumer demand for processed foods across the region.
The Irish Dairy Board (IDB) has invested €20m ($27m) in a dairy manufacturing and technology facility in Saudi Arabia, “to access the important dairy growth markets in the Middle East and North Africa region, supplying the Islamic Halal market segment”.
One of the largest chicken producers in Saudi Arabia has teamed up with one of Europe’s leading multi-material packaging manufacturers, LINPAC Packaging, in a new deal that looks set to have great impact on both the companies’ presence within the region,...
Saudi-based company Almarai has partnered with Oystar Gasti in a deal that will help fulfill continuing consumer demand for high quality dairy products in the Gulf.
Japan has appealed to the State of Qatar to lift restrictions on food imports from the Asian country following the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011, when a large number of countries imposed restrictions on Japan over fears of importing radiated...
The Campbell Soup Company has agreed to sell its European simple meals business to private equity firm CVC for €400m, but is retaining its largest and fastest-growing elements.
Food firm Kerry Group has posted promising half yearly figures despite UK brands flat-lining in spreads and frozen food as a result of heavy promotions and the horsemeat effect.
Chr. Hansen has narrowed its growth forecast for 2012-13 after a major natural colour customer in South America chose to return to synthetics, and carmine prices declined.
Australia recorded record red meat exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) last month, according to the latest figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
US beef exports fell in March compared to same time last year, but increased slightly in value, according to statistics released by the US Department for Agriculture (USDA).
Starch specialist KMC says it has developed two new starches for imitation cheese to cut costs and bring hard cheese alternatives to parts of the world where dairy ingredients may be difficult to handle or source, including the Middle East and North Africa.
Chocolate is the fastest growing UK food export driven by a rise in sales to the Middle East and Africa and factory expansion by Nestlé, according to a report from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).
Alcohol-free malt beverages are big business in the Middle East and there were plenty of varieties on show at Gulfood last week. Symrise brewmaster and category development manager Wilhelm Resanovic caught up with FoodNavigator at the show, where the...
FoodNavigator was among the hordes at Gulfood in Dubai this week, joining a huge international crowd, which squeezed its way past stands from 110 countries over the past four days.
ADM Cocoa has introduced a new intense cocoa powder at Gulfood in Dubai this week, tapping into consumer interest in richly coloured and intensely flavoured cocoa products.
The acquisition of the fruit processing and flavour’s unit of Egyptian firm Delta Aromatic will help ingredients giant Döhler Group’s bid to expand into ‘dynamic’ African and Middle Eastern markets, says the firm.
Arla Foods has reported record high profits of DKK 1.9bn ($340m) for 2012 – an achievement it has attributed to double-digit sales growth from Russia, China, and the Middle East and Africa region.
Mondelez is expanding in the Middle East having recently signed a joint venture in Saudi Arabia last week. ConfectioneryNews.com asks the industry giant if halal certification and alcohol-free labeling have been factored into its growth plans.
Cargill has said it intends to create a new sweeteners and starches joint venture in Saudi Arabia with agri-business firm Arasco, saying it will give the company a foothold in the fast-growing Middle East and North African market.
Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a range of proteins that enable traditional yogurt manufacturers to produce Greek-style yogurt using existing technology.
Young, self-confident and increasingly wealthy populations in North Africa and the Middle East offer big opportunities for food and beverage firms – but there are risks too, according to ingredient company Wild GmbH.
Chr. Hansen has teamed up with Kenyan firm Oleleshwa Enterprises Ltd to increase its knowledge of camel cheese production - knowledge it intends to pass on to camel owners in Africa and the Middle East for free.
Strong growth in Kerry Group’s ingredients and flavours division has helps to balance out slow-down in consumer goods, as revenues increased by nearly 11% to €4.4 billion.
Burger King (BKW) saw profits fall during the third quarter of 2012, with total revenues down 25.8% to $451.1m as a result of refranchising, the company reported yesterday.
International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has said it will invest $50m in its existing Turkish facility over the next three years, in order to support the company’s development in emerging markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
The influx of Western brands into the Israeli dairy market is unlikely, despite government plans to reduce long-standing import duties on milk-based products, Rabobank has claimed.
Companies that were part of the National Starch group of companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa have taken on the Ingredion brand from this month, following the official renaming in the United States in June.
Global meat producers are facing immediate and significant feed cost increases, which will impact supply dynamics and lead to increased meat prices, a new report has warned.
Dairy giant Arla Foods has reported a net profits decrease for the first six months of the year, as the continuing impact of the European dairy price war cancelled out revenue growth in the firm’s core and growth markets.
Symrise’s flavour and nutrition division nailed an increase in sales in the first half (H1) of 2012, driven by performance in emerging markets and increasing sales with major customers.
Russia and India were the most rapidly developing countries in terms of production of poultry meat in 2011, according to estimates from leading Russian analytical agency Agroru.
Dutch non-branded bar manufacturer VSI has begun operations at a €10m plant in Leerdam, Holland, which incorporates a research and development (R&D) centre and has the capacity to make triple-layered bars.
