Group participates in Gulfood conference, highlighting the region’s growing demand Mondelez has invested USD1.5bn in new or existing factories since 2012
Dubai Mondelez International emphasised at the Gulfood Manufacturing Conference the opportunity to drive F&B manufacturing innovation and quality in the Middle East.
Experts from Mondelez International joined business leaders from leading F&B companies and manufacturing organisations to discuss how companies in the region can harness global food trends to foster innovations and new technologies to facilitate growth and excellence.
Mondelez International has invested USD1.5 billion in new or existing manufacturing sites since 2012. This includes investments at existing facilities in the Middle East – in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain – plus USD90 million for a second biscuit factory in Bahrain. The facility will have capacity to produce up to 90,000 tons of biscuits a year such as Oreo, Ritz, belVita, Prince and TUC, as well as Barni cakes, to meet a doubledigit rise in demand in the MEA.
“As the world’s largest snacks company we have a critical role
to play in empowering consumers to snack mindfully and help them make better choices by creating innovative new products and improving product nutrition profiles,” said Alan Smith, managing director GCC Pakistan. “We’re finding ways to meet and anticipate consumer demands in a fiercely competitive marketplace, beginning with consumer insights, which flow through our rich innovation pipeline to how we apply new technology.”
With increased attention on food safety across the region, and ongoing changes to trade regulations, achieving superior quality and consumer safety across the food supply chain is vital. Ahmed Mandour, head of regulatory
and scientific affairs at Mondelez International, discussed the regional regulatory environment.
“This is a trend happening worldwide, and provides opportunities for manufacturers to enhance strong food safety and quality systems for ingredients and products,” he said.
“It is important to identify the intersection between standardisation and innovation, and whether regulatory standards in the region are addressing rapidly the changing consumer needs. By working in partnership, F&B manufacturers and governments can create a robust regulatory system that will support innovation in F&B manufacturing.”