‘Tasty’ sales leads for food and drink companies

Success at Gulfood 2008

Regional food and drink companies generated a significant amount of overseas business thanks to a UK Trade & Investment supported trade mission to Dubai.

Six Yorkshire and Humber companies joined the visit to Gulfood 2008, the Gulf region’s largest and most important industry event of the year. The event acts as a strategic platform for buyers and sellers to conduct business face to face.

The event featured a Food from Britain pavilion, where the regional firms exhibited their products as part of a dedicated Yorkshire and Humber group stand. In addition the delegates were able to take part in Food from Britain’s trade development programme which provided insight into the dynamic Dubai market.

Richard Firth from Tryton Foods, the name behind Aunt Bessie’s, who attended and exhibited at Gulfood commented: “We receive interest from all the Middle East countries and to my surprise a lot of interest from India. Although at this moment in time India does not have a frozen supply chain, it is only a matter of time, as they were desperate for our brand!

“We have chosen three key distributors to work with across the Middle East and have submitted out prices to these companies.”

Fellow exhibitor, Mandy Clinch from Riverside Foods said: “By attending the show and the trip in Dubai generally, we acquired all the market research, knowledge and understanding we needed to fully assess the potential of our products in the market. It gave us knowledge of our competitors and a good insight into the key targets for us.

“We had about 45 stand visitors and received enquiries from India, Kuwait, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.”

The other companies which joined the visit were Regal Foods, Mumtaz, Zelna Foods and Monkhill, represented by its new owners Tangerine Confectionery.

Food from Britain’s Elsa Fairbanks, who is also the UKTI sector specialist for food and drink said of the visit: “It was very encouraging to see how much potential there is for food and drink products from our region in the Gulf States and we were pleased to be able to support our local companies and help them to take advantage of some excellent business opportunities.”