Gulfood plans further growth for 2008

zoom

Ellie Habt: Already looking forward to Gulfood 2008.

After a successful Gulfood 2007, featuring 40% more exhibitors than last year's show, the event's organiser, Dubai World Trade Centre, is already turning its attention to 2008 and beyond. Indeed, the show's organizer plans to take over the entire Dubai World Trade Centre next year, when Gulfood returns between February 24 and 27 with an extra 10,000 sq m of exhibition space.

Gulfood international project manager Elly Habt said she was working on ideas as to how the show could be improved. "Feedback from our exhibitors and visitors this year has been extremely positive," she said. "We are definitely looking forward to 2008 as Gulfood continues to grow."

Looking beyond 2008 Habt said Gulfood would move to the new larger exhibition centre planned for Jebel Ali. "This will finally give us the opportunity to split up the show and to ‘segmentise' as well," she added.

Many companies exhibiting at the recent event also signaled their intention to invest in bigger stands at next year's event.

For example, Cambro manufacturing company is planning to take more space in 2008, according to Paul Micallef, regional sales director for the Middle East and North Africa. "I can see 25 distributors [at Gulfood]. It's a great opportunity to meet them all in one spot."

Ron Pilnik, managing director of Emirates Snack Foods, a UAE-based food and beverage distributor, said his company will also expand its presence at Gulfood 2008.

"This is our fourth time at Gulfood. We started with 30 sq metres and we now have 220 sq m. Last year had 97 sq m and next year we are looking at having 350 sq m." He added that the event offers an ideal opportunity to show new products to existing and potential clients.

"We have over 4000 clients. Gulfood is a good way to show many of them new products and there are always new people who can come and see what we have," he said.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM