25 Filipino companies join largest food expo in Dubai

The Philippines’ national fish, milkfish or bangus, will be featured in Gulfood with the showcase of the ‘Sarangani Bay’ brand of Alsons Aquaculture Corp.

Some of the country’s top and emerging food companies are looking to get a bigger market share in the Middle East and North African region as they gear up for their participation in Gulfood at the Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre at the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 17 to 21, 2019.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, 25 food producers and manufacturers will represent the Philippines in a showcase of the country’s top halal-certified food selections including processed fruits and vegetables, marine products, coconut products, among others.

“The Philippines’ leading and emerging food brands are ready to take on the export demands of Middle East countries to widen the country’s reach on the existing Filipino niche and mainstream market in the Middle East,” said DTI-Citem executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan.

“In the Philippines’ 14th participation, we will feature seven new companies in Gulfood which have products that fit the demand for halal-certified tropical, ready-to-eat and healthy food selections across the MENA region,” she said.

Seven new companies under the Philippine delegation are Columbia International Food Products, Inc. with tropical sweets and chewables; Alsons Aquaculture Corp. with ‘Sarangani Bay’ milkfish; Fitrite Inc. with tropical juices, dried fruits and sauces; Leonie Agri Corp. with food supplement and organic products; LTH Food Industries Inc. with  flavored creamers and cupcakes; Monde Nissin Corp. with snacks and confectionaries; and Phil-Union Frozen Foods Inc. with premium canned pasteurized crabmeat and frozen seafood products.

Meanwhile, Philippine companies that are making a comeback in Gulfood include Brandexports Philippines Inc., Celebes Coconut Corp., Century Pacific Food Inc., Gem Foods International Inc., Krystle Exports Phil. Inc., Mama Sita’s, Marikina Food Corp., Market Reach International Resources, Mega Global Corp., Philippine Grocers Food Exports Inc., Pixcel Transglobal Foods Inc., Profood International Corp., Q-Phil Products International, Sagrex Foods Inc., San Miguel Pure Foods Company, See’s International Food, SL Agritech Corp. and Super Q.

“The sheer number of returning companies in Gulfood under the Philippine delegation indicates the great opportunities that are present in the Middle East, as well as the high confidence in the marketing boost that DTI-Citem gives to its stakeholders,” Suaco-Juan said.

“These players are the same companies that started their export journey in IFEX Philippines and have gained experience in dealing with international buyers in our signature event—now they are taking it up to a notch in the global arena,” she said.

Gulfood is one of the world’s biggest fairs for the food and hospitality industries held annually in Dubai. Its previous edition was attended by 98,000 visitors and participated in by 5,000 exhibitors from 198 countries worldwide.

For its 24th edition, the five-day event will carry the theme ‘The World of Food. The World of Good’ with a highlight on the latest consumer trends and innovations. It also aims to present new trade opportunities, as well as cooking demonstrations by world-renowned culinary masters.