Gulfood 2023, the largest annual food and beverage sourcing event in the world, held at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 20-24 February, 2023, ended on a positive note.
The 28th edition of the industry leading event saw a larger audience than ever before, bringing together F&B communities from across the world to the modern metropolis to chart the way forward for this rapidly evolving sector.
Gulfood 2023 is a show that promises to launch new industry trends, power fast-paced global sourcing, bring together the most diverse world of F&B, and ultimately push the sector conversations from agenda to action.
125 countries participated in this year’s edition, featuring over 5,000 exhibitors, with 1,500 of them new to the show, who occupied 24 halls and 1 million sq. ft. of exhibition space of F&B products and innovation. The expanded 2023 exhibitor line-up saw new pavilions from Armenia, Cambodia, and Iraq, and welcomed back returning pavilions from Australia and South Africa.
Another significant highlight of Gulfood 2023 was Gulfood Green, a new global sustainability initiative to ignite and continue conversations within the wider F&B community to create a momentous shift towards more sustainable and resilient food production and consumption. The aim is to influence key food industry champions for sustainable food systems transformation leading up to COP28 and setting a future precedent.
With UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment HE Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri making the opening address, Gulfood Inspire featured over 100 distinguished speakers, including thought leaders, new-age entrepreneurs, culinary talents, and industry commentators from diverse fields, opening up to explore several themes of industry relevance. The prominent summit featured some of the most impact-making conversations in the world of F&B on a platform to learn, debate, network, and benchmark the latest technologies.
Unveiling the next culinary trend and food masterpieces, Gulfood Top Table presented a star-studded lineup of internationally renowned chefs, including Michelin-starred chefs, who rolled out over 30 master classes with thousands of new culinary creations; chef talks on alternative proteins, borderless cuisine, desserts, Dubai’s thriving female chefs, global flavours, and sustainability; and a competition for cooks dishing out good home-made food. For the first time, Top Table also presented a unique culinary showcase by diverse food communities, creating impact across the larger culinary ecosystem.
Foodverse at Gulfood 2023 provided a chance to discover how new cutting-edge technology will revolutionise the F&B industry, and the unimaginable possibilities the food ecosystem is presented through a fully-immersive journey into Web 3.0. Visitors also experienced real-life applications of food technology including food in the metaverse, virtual restaurants, the Internet of Food (IoF), 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), and F&B NFT projects, emerging technology trends that will pave the way for future innovations in the F&B industry.
Another highlight of Gulfood 2023, was Gulfood YouthX, the first-of-its-kind launch-pad for empowering promising F&B talents with a career changing experience. The YouthX Young Chef Challenge was held on 23 February, 2023, at Gulfood Top Table.
For latest updates visit www.gulfood.com
