The report is set to be released in the upcoming Gulfood Manufacturing exhibition in November 2017

Saleh Abdullah Lootah:

  • By publishing the report, we will be playing our part in helping stakeholders and decision makers in the sector make sound decisions grounded in accurate, verifiable data.

  • The study mines data from every source deemed relevant to the F&B manufacturing sector, organises it, and draws critical conclusions from it.

Dubai, April 18, 2017 

The Food and Beverage Manufacturing Business Group (FBMG) has announced its report titled Annual UAE Food Industry Report, set to be released in the upcoming Gulfood Manufacturing exhibition in November 2017.

Conducted in partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Gulfood Manufacturing, the report seeks to catalyse the growth of the F&B manufacturing industry in the UAE. It gauges accurate data to better understand the needs and challenges of specific industries, and bring together industry leaders and decision makers to address them. Eventually, the findings will help develop more effective workforce development programmes, services, and policies that better prepare local and expatriate staffers within the sector.

Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Chairman of FBMG, said: “We, at the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Business Group, have made it our mission to develop the F&B sector in the UAE, not only to place it on par with its international counterparts, but to also turn the Emirates into an F&B manufacturing hub for the entire region. By publishing the Annual UAE Food Industry Report, we will be playing our part in helping stakeholders and decision makers in the sector make sound decisions grounded in accurate, verifiable data. The study mines data from every source deemed relevant to the F&B manufacturing sector, organises it, and draws critical conclusions from it.”

“The report allows stakeholders within the sector to look at the F&B industry from different perspectives, assessing the publicly available data, and employing it when exploring policy changes, progress in implementation strategies, and global supply-chain dynamics,” H.E. Lootah explained. “The report creates synergy among the various stakeholders within the sector, thereby adding value to the whole industry.”

The study adopts a two-pronged approach to research, relying on both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The qualitative approach consists of 30 interviews conducted in each of the seven emirates – albeit with a bigger sample planned for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Interviews will cover all stakeholders from consumers to manufacturers to distributors. These interviews, however, move away from the traditional Q&A format and opt, instead, for a discussion between the interviewer and the respondent based around a topic guide. This approach elicits more valuable information, focusing, in particular, on areas of key importance to the respondent.

The quantitative research, meanwhile, consists of a survey – titled the Needs and Opportunities Survey – set to be conducted in July to September of 2017. The survey canvasses high-ranking executives and figureheads from across the food and beverage manufacturing industry across the seven emirates. A census was undertaken to determine the number of companies operating within the sector; the results registered 250-300 companies, all of which will be contacted.

In addition to that, the report factors in external data including government statistics by emirate, internet searches and trade press, international trade data (imports/exports), FAO data, etc.

Mark Napier, Director of Gulfood Manufacturing, said: “Gulfood Manufacturing applauds such initiatives that will further accelerate growth in the food manufacturing sector. This rich market insight will provide captains of industry and investors with the insight and analysis to guide and shape their investment in plant, process, and machinery.”

The report’s content is extensive, covering several key aspects and realities of the F&B manufacturing sector. It covers such topics as: Food and beverage industry today and tomorrow (global, regional and local overview); industry sector descriptions and food processing value chain; classification of the F&B industry into product categories; examples of success stories in local F&B manufacturing; opportunity assessment by F&B product category; and infrastructure and regulations.

The study goes on to gauge the current status of the food processing and manufacturing industry, looking into growth in population, tourism and hotels; contribution to the local economy and to GDP.

In the interest of full transparency, the gathered data will be made available on the dedicated F&B data platform, created as part of the FLW Protocol implementation process in the UAE, heralded by the FBMG itself. This will promote the Emirates as a regional hub for the food manufacturing and processing sector.

Established under the auspices of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Business Group (FBMG) seeks to create a platform for F&B manufacturers to resolve industry-related challenges and take the sector in the UAE to greater heights. Membership is open to any business operating in the food & beverage manufacturing sector in the country.

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For media inquiries, contact:
Nedal Al Assad, Omar Badran
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
Nedal.AlAsaad@bm.com
Omar.Badran@bm.com
044507626

© Press Release 2017