My Gulfood Journey: Exploring the World's Pantry

Gulfood is one of the world's largest food and beverage exhibition held in Dubai. The annual event brings food and beverage professionals and enthusiasts under one roof showcasing the latest trends, products and innovations in the food industry.

This year, I decided to attend the event and witness the global culinary scene first-hand.

The exhibition was divided into numerous halls, each one specifically showcasing a distinct product

category. For example, three halls were allocated to beverages and oils, while the other three were devoted to pulses and grains. Additionally, there were separate halls for power brands, world food, meat and poultry, and dairy.

Products were available for sampling

Certain halls even featured designated sections that highlighted particular countries. This made it easier to navigate the exhibition. For example, if an attendee was looking for an Indian oil brand, they would immediately know which section to explore.

The event was spread over five days. However, I decided to attend only the first two days, as I left the other time to explore the city.

First Day of Gulfood

To be honest, I had no preconceived notions about this exhibition, and that turned out to be a good thing. As I entered the first hall, I was utterly astonished. It boasted soaring ceilings and enormous stalls that had been lavishly adorned with exquisite lights, banners, promotional materials, merchandise, and other impressive items.

Oil is being packaged in unique bottles

I experienced a childlike sense of wonder where every aspect of the exhibition captivated my attention. The first thing that caught my eye was a robot brewing coffee using the same equipment as baristas in cafes. I stood mesmerized for a full five minutes, observing the robot's every movement as it expertly prepared the coffee. Hahahaha, it may sound peculiar but I was completely engrossed in the experience.

I spent the first day walking from one hall to the other, staring at the products people were selling, and being amazed at their unique packaging styles and innovative selling techniques. The Trade Centre (location of the Gulfood) in Dubai was enormous. Therefore, the majority of the day was spent trying to navigate from one hall to the other.

At the exhibition, visitors can sample the products. The exhibitors are not allowed to make any sales at the location, but the sampling allows visitors to taste the various foods and beverages.

The first thing, I tried was an immunity booster shot that gained popularity during the pandemic. The beverage was contained within compact bottles, available in a variety of flavours such as lemon, black currant, and others. It was delectable and provided an immediate surge in energy.

Another thing I experimented with was an alcoholic substitute drink, that was meant to imitate the alcohol taste yet contain 0% alcohol. To be honest, I didn't like it. I couldn't discern if it was the drink itself or the mixer they utilized. Nevertheless, it was not my cup of tea.

Before the exhibition, I conducted some research to learn about the companies that were exhibiting. I stumbled upon a couple of food industry magazines that were exhibiting. Thus, I also made it a point to interact with him to understand their content and obtain the contact details of the editors.

Overall, it was a productive and exciting first day at the Gulfood.

Second Day

Brewed teas available for sampling

The second day was much easier and fun-filled than the first because I had learnt the routes between halls. Additionally, I had gotten a little more comfortable with the environment and seized the opportunity to interact with people and gain a comprehensive understanding of their products.

I learnt multiple new concepts on this day. Do you know what is freeze-drying? It is a process to dehydrate fruits and vegetables through exposure to a below-freezing temperature in a vacuum chamber.

I also came across a company that was selling drinks tailored to different phases of a woman's life. The drinks were infused with tea and fruit blends that aimed to assist women during breastfeeding, menstrual cycles, menopause and more. Yes, I did pick their brochure for further research.

I also sampled a beverage called pink tea - an instant tea with a distinctive pink hue. Unfortunately, it was overly sweet for my liking.

Another exhibitor had designed their booth to resemble a coffee shop, which displayed a wide selection of teas and coffee products. The standout item, in my opinion, was their frozen coffee - essentially, a coffee slushie. It was undoubtedly the highlight of the entire exhibition for me.

I also spent the day trying diverse snack items like biscuits etc.

Overall Review

An exhibitor designed the booth like a coffee shop

I had always been aware of the enormity of the food industry with its multitude of businesses. However, it wasn't until I attended Gulfood that I truly experienced the immensity of it.

The halls were brimming with a diverse array of stalls, both large and small, featuring companies selling a wide range of food and beverage products, including those trading in them. I was struck by the fact that some businesses were sustaining and generating substantial profits by specialising in just one time like dates, saffron or rice. Furthermore, almost all the attendees had some kind of connection to the food industry. Thus, I was astounded by the sheer number of individuals involved in this sector.

Overall, Gulfood was an enriching experience that broadened my knowledge and understanding of the food industry and provided me with valuable insights into emerging trends and technologies