FOODPhilippines posts $133M sales in Gulfood

CEBU, Philippines — FOODPhilippines, a food branding initiative of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), reported a US$133 million export sales performance from its recent participation in Gulfood held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This year’s sales performance, according to CITEM is double the sales generated in its 2023 participation.

The amount is a combination of booked orders and sales under negotiation following the 5-day food expo which ran from February 19 to 23, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in Dubai.

Known as the biggest gathering of leading food and beverage (F&B) brands from more than 190 countries, Gulfood provides a business platform to buyers, exhibitors, and notable personalities in the food and hospitality industries. The annual trade show for food sets the stage where the latest tastes, trends, and innovations are unveiled.

This year, a delegation of 25 Philippine companies engaged in F&B brought to the fore local food products focused on health and wellness.

Among the top-selling companies are Pixcel Transglobal, Inc.; SL Agritech Corp.; and Lionheart Farms, Inc. Consequently, the top food products in terms of dollar value of export leads were fruit preserves, cavendish bananas, fermented marine products, and amino sap beverages.

CITEM’s  Edward Fereira underscored the crucial role that Gulfood has been playing in the global food scene saying that “the annual food expo has become an entry point for businesses across the world to penetrate the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.”

This year’s participation is led by CITEM, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in close collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry – Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), and Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai (PTIC-Dubai).

CITEM is also set to hold IFEX Philippines, the country’s biggest international trade show for food and ingredients, on May 10-12, 2024 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, in Pasay City, Philippines.

FOODPhilippines promotes the country as a source of quality food products and ingredients in physical and/or digital trade shows and business-to-business platforms in priority markets around the world.

Under the FOODPhilippines banner, the Philippines is positioned as an exporter of healthy, organic, natural, and specialty food products and services. — (FREEMAN)