Packaging MEA Editor Ben Daniel takes a sneak peek at the region’s biggest Food and Beverage Processing & Packaging Industry and the trends, opportunities and disruptions in the retail sector
F&B Sector is largest contributor to MENA Packaging Industry Set to Reach US$52.4 Billion by 2019. Regional and global packaging suppliers will showcase the contemporary technologies, products and solutions .
As the MEASA region’s biggest food and beverage processing and packaging industry event, Gulfood Manufacturing will connect F&B processing, packaging and allied fulfilment brand owners and converting professionals with over 1,600 suppliers showcasing the latest F&B manufacturing business improvement tools.
Over the course of three days, 36,000 food and beverage manufacturers will convene in Dubai to find the latest production and packaging solutions from 60+ countries.
Increasing regional food production and the need for sustainable, flexible and cost-effective packaging solutions catered to regional consumers’ tastes will see a host of leading global packaging technology providers converge on next month’s inaugural Gulfood Manufacturing – the region’s only dedicated F&B processing exhibition.
With the food and beverage (F&B) sector contributing 59 per cent of a MENA packaging industry predicted to be worth US$41.1 billion in 2014 according Smithers Pira, major players from across the international packaging industry will display the latest packaging technologies in a variety of F&B-related sectors which runs 29-31 October at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Packaging industry companies will leverage Gulfood Manufacturing to highlight an array of innovative solutions to production challenges across the entire value chain – from raw material suppliers, through convertors, right to finished products – as they seek to gain a greater share of a MENA packaging industry forecast to grow at a CAGR of five per cent to US$52.4 billion by 2019 (Source: Smithers Pira).
Private Label & Licensing Middle East
Private Label & Licensing Middle East aims to connect private label suppliers, brand licensors and contract manufacturers with the F&B and retail industry in the MENA region.
Designed to bring industry professionals to find new products, make new contacts and discover new ideas that can increase your business profitability, Private Label & Licensing Middle East is a new product by Gulfood, which will take place alongside Gulfood Manufacturing.
This powerful co-location brings even more possibilities to packaging business.
Join 5,000 executives & entrepreneurs and 140 exhibitors in the MENA region’s exclusive exhibition for Food and Non-Food Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) looking into expansion and greater brand placement.
FMCG product mix expansion and brand placement, connecting private label suppliers and contract manufacturers from across the globe with clients from the Arab world. 
The event is aimed at FMCG manufacturers of all forms of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) exploring brand and footprint expansion opportunities by selling product lines through private label and contract manufacturing.
Private Label & Licensing Middle East will focus on two core CPG product lines: food and beverage commodities such as packaged food and beverages, frozen and ready-to-eat, value-added products, speciality lines and pet food; in addition to other non-food items including cleaning products and supplies, personal hygiene, industrial and professional care, cosmetics, baby care and contract packaging.
Opportunities in the food and beverage sector reflect the general buoyancy in the wider Private Label industry, with the global packaged food private label market expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5 per cent between 2014 and 2018 according to Infinium Global Research.
In conducting extensive feasibility studies while conceptualising PRIME, DWTC surveys revealed that 55 per cent of Gulfood 2018 exhibitors view Private Label as one of the industry’s most important trends, while 41 per cent of Gulfood 2018 visitors expressed a desire to see Private Label represented in DWTC’s expansive Gulfood portfolio of industry-centric events.
The November edition of Packaging MEA will be a special anniversary edition of the magazine covering the most important aspect of the packaging Industry “Food & Beverage Packaging”.