Scottish industry association Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is looking to promote the Scotch Beef brand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), now that the UK has received export certification from the Middle Eastern country.
A rapid alert system to warn authorities about foodborne outbreaks, contamination and recalls related to food is being developed to provide regional communication for the Gulf States.
Global group International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has opened a dedicated facility in Dubai, with an industry insider hailing the move as strategic in terms of leveraging growing demand in the Middle East and Africa.
French flavour firm Mane has entered into a joint venture in Jeddah to tap the growth potential of Middle Eastern food manufacturers – said to the first global flavour company to set up shop in Saudi Arabia.
UK food and drink exports surpassed £10.83 billion in 2010, up 11 per cent on the previous year, according to new figures that belie opportunities for manufacturers to look to new markets – and the importance of the sector to the overall economy.
Confectionery giant Nestlé has officially opened a (USD) $136m manufacturing facility in Dubai which is set to become the third largest Kit Kat plant worldwide.
Food and drink trade figures for the first half of 2010 show that UK exports have risen by 8.1% compared to the same period of 2009, with non-EU markets fuelling growth.
Dutch malt extract firm Diastatische Products is eyeing new opportunities for its malt extract ingredients in Belgium, Poland and the Middle East, and has a new distribution agreement with Univar to help it tap them.
As Gulfood opens its doors in Dubai the global food industry is turning its attention to the rich opportunities presented by the Middle Eastern market, and consumer tastes and preferences there.
Firmenich has announced the opening of a new affiliate in Dubai, in a bid to deepen its understanding of Middle Eastern consumers’ flavour and fragrance preferences.
Doehler has opened a new applications centre in the Middle Eastern hub of Dubai, in a bid to tap the high-growth market and aid development of products to suit local tastes.
Cargill is stepping up its sales capacity in the Middle East with a
new base in Dubai for Texturizing Solutions that will allow it to
collaborate more closely with customers in the region.
Ingredients supplier Wild has this week opened its first beverage
ingredients manufacturing site in the Middle East, building on the
growing demand for soft drinks in the area.
Market development consultancy Food from Britain (FFB) are urging
exporters to take advantage of large British expatriates overseas,
as the first step in establishing themselves in foreign markets.
Nestlé, the world's biggest food firm, has taken out adverts in
Saudi Arabia to refute rumours that two of its dairy products are
Danish, as unlucky Arla Foods continues to suffer from 'those
cartoons'.
Arla Foods said its future on the key Middle East dairy market was
in jeopardy, after the group stopped production for the area amid a
widescale boycott on Danish products by Muslim consumers.
Arla's switch of production from the EU to Saudi Arabia will save
the firm money and help it to benefit from the Middle East's
significant potential for high value diary products.
Ingredients companies including Cargill and Chr Hansen are
expanding facilities and picking up acquisitions in order to meet
growing global demand, writes Anthony Fletcher.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued yet another food
hazard warning over food products contaminated with the potential
carcinogen Sudan I. But in India, the country's spices board
reveals it is tackling the problem.
More than nine tonnes of food found unfit for human consumption was
destroyed in the United Arab Emirates in the first six months of
this year, the Gulf News reports.
Benecol, the range of cholesterol-lowering products created by the
Finnish group Raisio, will be made available in a number of new
markets following key distribution agreements.
Thailand's Central Islamic Committee said that halal food products,
or those complying with Islamic rules, could dominate an $80
billion world market within one year, if the government and private
sector worked together to boost...
Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have taken steps to
withdraw all Spanish olive oil from the market following the
discovery of benzopyrene in olive-pomace oil.
