In the year of EXPO Milan 2015, focused on the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life and therefore on good, healthy and sustainable food for all, Italy will be promoting the excellence of its quality food with a dedicated Italian Pavilion at this year’s Speciality Food Festival, set to take place from 27th to 29thOctober at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Now at its 6th edition, the 3-day event is a niche platform that brings together leading producers of gourmet, organic and luxury food, who come face to face with the most prominent retailers and distributors from across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
The Italian Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA)- Trade Promotion Office of the Italian Embassy, will bring to Dubai 25 top companies giving visitors the opportunity to explore the extraordinary Italian taste and to tickle their taste buds with an array of gourmet delights and delicacies.
“In only six years, the Speciality Food Festival has earned itself a reputation as the Region’s top venue to source highly-specialized, luxury and niche food products for retailers, distributors, chefs and hospitality players across the Middle East. The event marks a golden opportunity to evaluate this market’s response to the quality and variety of authentic Italian products”, said Ferdinando Fiore, Italian Trade Commissioner.
Daily cooking shows will also be organized at the Italian Pavilion in collaboration with Bice Group, and will involve Chef Luca Zanchetti & Team, Chef Manuel Baima Besquet & Team, and Mr. Marcello Rivetti, Executive Corporate Chef Bice Group. It will be an exquisite occasion to taste Italian delicacies prepared using the products of the Italian companies exhibiting at the Fair.
Among the Italian exhibitors, visitors will meet a qualified group of companies coming from the four Southern Italian Regions of Campania, Calabria, Apulia and Sicily. This initiative is included in “The Export South Plan”, a 3-year special support programme exclusively planned for and customized to Southern Italian companies. Its aim is to promote their products and services in foreign markets and showcase the unique features and quality characterizing the excellence of these areas.
The Italian food industry, with over €130 billion in revenues (more than €134 billion estimated for 2015, €29 billion of which from exports), 6,850 active companies and 385,000 employees, has a strategic role to play in the UAE, the fastest-growing and most attractive market for Italian food, driven by the constant development of tourism, the bright prospects of EXPO 2020 and its renowned role as a logistic hub in the Middle East and Gulf Region.
The sales of Italian food in the UAE have grown steadily over the last three years: Italian exports of agricultural products, food and beverages increased significantly in each and every year: +39.1% in 2012, +39.5% in 2013 and +9% in 2014, with a further upward trend in the first 3 months of 2015 (+23.6%). Last year, Italian exports of food and beverages to the UAE totalled almost €242million.
The 25 participating Italian companies will bring to the Festival an array of different food specialties including pasta, coffee, olive oil, traditional cheeses and sweets. Confirmed exhibitors that will be hosted at the Italian Pavilion are Agrigenius, Agrumaria Reggina, Albergian, Caracciolo, Apulia Consortium, Caffen, Campo D’Oro Villa Reale, Casa Emma, Dolcerie Veneziane, E.T. Formaggi, Foodest Trade, Gabro, High Quality Food International, Italiana Confetti, Fungo e Tartufo, Meal Italy, Panificio Spar, Pastificio Fratelli Cellino, DTS Dolciaria, Domenica Manca, Siciliatavola, Silarus, Sole Trade, Streglio 1924 and Gusta la Sicilia.
