Food Processing and Packaging Priorities for the New Decade

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•  Gulfood Identifies Game-Changers for 2010 and Beyond

 
 
As the Gulf region gains importance for the global food and beverage industry, the next decade brings a new set of priorities and challenges for processing and packaging, according to the organiser of Gulfood. The Middle East’s largest food, drink, foodservice and hospitality exhibition - being held from 21 – 24 February 2010 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) - has identified several trends that will change the regional processing and packaging industry in 2010 and beyond.
 
Many of these trends will be reflected in the inaugural Gulfood Conference ‘Global Trends in Food, Beverage and Processing’ which runs throughout the four days of the show. Leading speakers include: Djamal Djouhri, Vice President, Al Ghurair Commodities; Alex Andarakis, CEO of Al Islami Foods; John Brash, Founder & CEO, Brash FZ LLC; Elizabeth Martins, Head of MENA, Business Monitor International; Rob O’Hanlon, Partner, Deloitte & Touche; Alexander Smertz, Global Head of Product Management, Doehler; Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Export Development Corporation; Ewa Hudson, Head of Health & Wellness Foods & Beverages Research, Euromonitor; Dr. Jochen Zoller, President of Food Services, Intertek; Dr Philippe Fouler, Market Development Manager, Middle East & Latin America, Roquette; Daniel During, Managing Partner, Thomas Klein International and Sudhakar Tomar, Chairperson of the World Pulses Organisation.
 
“Rapid development and globalisation are changing the playing field as the region’s import and re-export markets bring international food practices to developing countries,” explains Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre. “Coupled with growing population numbers and diverse consumer habits, the opportunities are vast for emerging processing and packaging players that have the flexibility to adapt to their changing retail environments. International companies will be visiting Gulfood 2010 to capitalise on these opportunities.”
 
Gulfood lists the major trends that are set to transform processing and packaging operators in the food and drinks industry.
 
New Consumer Preferences
Urbanisation and a rising middle class will continue to influence consumer preferences and purchasing decisions. Increased importance will be give to convenience, healthy choices and new taste options. For packaged foods these trends will mean growth in dried foods, dairy products and emerging categories like snack bars and baby food, while non-alcoholic beverages will see a shift to non-carbonated alternatives.
 
Speed and Agility
Fast and flexible is the aim of the operations game as manufacturers introduce new enterprise technologies to better cope with the increased volume and diversity of products. Processing plants must be able to easily add new products to the mix, change recipes on the fly and quickly implement new operational procedures. They must also execute these changeovers, while meeting high sanitation and environmental requirements. All of this has to be done smoothly to reduce time-to-market and limit the impact on operations. Meanwhile, plant maintenance will move from preventive to predictive mode with condition monitoring, maintenance system upgrades and the promise of easier integration.

Quality Control
Advanced automation and information technology will help plants ensure the highest possible quality of their product. The key to maintaining brand equity, which is paramount in this industry, is product consistency —not only batch-to-batch, but facility-to-facility. Such technology will ensure that each batch and each operation is performed the same as the previous one, while allowing operators to compensate for process changes that can impact the finished product.
 
Taggable Universe
According to KPMG, RFID, GPS and related technologies will be affixed to just about everything a consumer touches. Tags will reveal information from the freshness of store-bought broccoli, to inventory holdings at each pick up and distribution point along the company’s supply chain. Food traceability is also of increasing importance as contamination problems and threats of bioterrorism continue to plague the industry globally. The ability to know at all times where food products and all of the ingredients come from and go to will become a manufacturer’s best defense in calming consumers’ fears, minimising health risks and avoiding costly lawsuits.
 
Ethical and Sustainable Packaging
Ethical product development is now a major issue in the industry, and includes the use and promotion of sustainable packaging formats. Ethical packaging is being driven by consumer environmental concern, retailer pressure and the development and promotion of manufacturer CSR. Retailers and manufacturers must be seen to be contributing to a greener and more sustainable way of life by the media, the industry and consumers alike. To remain competitive, retain consumer loyalty and be innovative, retailers and food and drinks manufacturers need to invest in ethical policies by either developing products in ethical packaging or promoting and reminding consumers to act ethically and responsibly. Manufacturers will also look at ways to reduce energy consumption and waste throughout their plants as they realise the cost savings of turning green.
 
Focus on Food Safety
Food safety reform is a key focus of the UAE government right now with significant changes under consideration or being implemented. With lifestyle diseases like diabetes and food allergies on the rise across the Middle East, experts say enhanced labeling will help consumers to better understand what they are consuming. And as consumers become more discriminating about what they eat they will start to demand more integrity, accountability, information and control from manufacturers.

Packaging as mini billboards
More than ever we will see packaging used as a vehicle to add value to products, distinguish them from the competition and create a more profitable market share. With marketing budgets curtailed by the global recession, companies have directed more effort at strengthening their shelf presence, treating their packaging as mini billboards. Watch out for creative, innovative and convenience packaging ideas like food containers that attach to a car console via fabric fasteners or pressure-sensitive closures to debut in the near future.
 
“Trade professionals visiting this year’s show can expect to find the latest processing and packaging solutions to meet the demands of the evolving regional food industry,” adds Almarri. “From operational efficiency, quality control, food safety and consumer engagement, our exhibitors will showcase technologies and products to help regional businesses keep up with or ahead of the trends.”
 
Gulfood is a strictly trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors from within the industry only. Industry professionals on the day of the show will be able to buy a Day Pass for AED 60, or a Four Day Pass for AED 120. To save on the entry fee, register for complementary tickets now by visiting www.gulfood.com/business. Gulfood is open from 11am – 7pm Sunday 21 February to Tuesday 23 February 2010 and from 11am – 5pm on Wednesday 24 February 2010.

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