Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) has made a deal with Dubai Expo 2020 to launch a series of food-and-beverage locations across the Expo site’s three Thematic Districts. Fresh produce grown at EKFC’s vertical farm, situated next to the Expo site, will be served at these outlets, which will feature diverse culinary choices.

Gillian Hamburger, Senior Vice President - Programming at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “With 50 million meals expected to be served during Expo 2020, both quality and sustainability are crucial to our aim of creating an exceptional, and delicious, World Expo, while also contributing to a more sustainable future for us all.”

Operated by EKFC, the fine-dining restaurants will feature rotating menus and a monthly star chef from its extensive network. According to a statement from Dubai Expo, the eateries will embrace authentic recipes from participating countries, enabling diners to sample global flavours, ingredients and treats they might have never considered before stepping through the Expo 2020 gates.

Expo 2020 and EKFC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that sets out a shared vision for the largest event ever staged in the Arab world. This forms part of a broader collaboration which puts the planet first – with Expo 2020 and EKFC innovating together to advance Expo 2020’s Sustainability subtheme and create lasting positive environmental impacts.

Saeed Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Flight Catering, said: “Our ‘farm to fork’ concept not only secures our own supply chain of locally-sourced, fresh vegetables, but it significantly reduces our environmental footprint as well. We are delighted to collaborate with Expo 2020 to provide millions of visitors with a truly memorable gastronomical experience.”

EKFC is one of the world’s largest catering operations and offering airline, events and VIP catering as well as ancillary services including laundry, food production and airport lounge food and beverage. Its 130,000 square foot vertical farm, located next door to the Expo 2020 site in Dubai South, will produce 2,700 kilos of herbicide- and pesticide-free leafy greens every day, using 99 per cent less water than outdoor fields. A proportion of its output will go to Emirates-operated outlets and various other pavilions at Expo during the 173 days of the event.

Expo 2020 Dubai is set to welcome visitors from every corner of the globe to discover mouthwatering dishes, creative gastronomic experiences, future-shaping food tech, old classics, new favourites, street bites and gourmet delights across more than 200 food and beverage outlets.

There will be options to suit every palate, with 50-plus cuisines to try across an area equal in size to seven football pitches and almost 300,000 meals served every day throughout the six-month celebration that begins on 20 October 2020.

(Writing by Seban Scaria seban.scaria@refinitiv.com, editing by Daniel Luiz)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Read our full disclaimer policy here.

© ZAWYA 2019