Prodeca resumes face-to-face trade fair activity with participation in Gulfood 2021

From February 21 to 25, Prodeca organizes the participation of 10 Catalan food and beverage companies at the Gulfood fair, the most important food and non-alcoholic beverage fair in the world and the reference meeting for companies wishing to establish business contacts in the Middle East, Asia and East Africa area. 

The Gulfood fair, which is held in Dubai (Arab Emirates), is the first face-to-face food and drink event of 2021, and has the participation of pavilions from 85 countries in an environment that has been specially taken care of to be safe, both for exhibitors and visitors.

The Catalan companies participating in Gulfood 2021 are: 

• CATÁNIES CUDIÉ - Chocolates 
• MOLICLARA - Dried fruit
• CLARANUTS - Dried fruit
• CONFIGIRONA - Confectionery
• FROZEN OLOT - Frozen prepared dishes
• ECOBASICS ORGANIC - Cereals, vegetable protein and other organic products
• PIFARRÉ - Confectionery
• PONS - Olive oil and vinegars
• GEMI PRODUCTS 1966 - Halal sausages
• SANT ANIOL - Natural mineral water

Halal production in Catalonia

Catalonia is one European powerhouse in food and beverage production, the main production area in Spain in food and beverages with Halal quality certification, which allows food products to be positioned in Muslim-majority markets.

In addition to meat and sausages, there are broths, sauces, confectionery, pastries, waters, soft drinks, prepared dishes and other processed foods that have Halal certification.

The main destination markets for Catalan Halal production are European, and those that make up the Middle East and North Africa region.

With regard to the Catalan agri-food sector as a whole, the UAE is the 6th destination market for exports outside the EU and during 2019, €138M worth of food was exported, 7.6% more than the previous year. The country represents 36.5% of exports to the Middle East, being the first destination market in this region for the Catalan agri-food sector. The main foods and drinks exported are fruit, olive oil, chocolates, sweets and dairy products.

The Middle East, a growing market for exporters

Dubai is the gateway to the Middle East, where consumption of food and beverages has increased globally by more than 15% in the last year, thanks to consumption habits and spending on luxury goods that predominate in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The UAE has become one of the main re-export centers of the Middle East and of the Indian subcontinent, due to its strategic location and high logistical development. They re-export approximately 30% of imported products to nearly 140 markets around the world.

The UAE grocery market is an emerging market for foreign importers. Domestic production accounts for 25% of food products available in retail stores.  Many key retailers in the UAE have partnered with foreign companies to import food products directly.