U.S. Beef, Lamb Showcased at Gulfood 2016 in Dubai

More than 90,000 people from 160 countries are expected to visit Gulfood 2016, which is underway this week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Considered one of the world’s largest food exhibitions, Gulfood provides exporters an opportunity to meet with key food industry buyers – not only from the Middle East, but also from growing regions of Africa, Asia and Europe.


John Brook, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East, notes that the largest-ever contingent of U.S. meat exporters is participating in the show this year, even as declines in oil prices impact the Middle East economy. Brook explains the region’s reliance on food imports – even in tough economic times – results in steady demand for products like red meat. Brook adds that while beef is the most popular item displayed by USMEF members, Gulfood also attracts buyers seeking high-quality U.S. lamb.


TRANSCRIPT:

Ralph Loos: Gulfood 2016 is underway this week in Dubai, the main center of commerce for the United Arab Emirates and the entire Gulf Region. In this U.S. Meat Export Federation report, John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East, previews the fast-growing event. Brook explains that while plummeting oil prices have had an impact on the region’s economy, Gulfood continues to gain momentum as one of the world’s largest food exhibitions.

John Brook: Gulfood has really become a very, very important show. It is the regional show for all of the Middle East, drawing in people from all over Africa, Asia, as well, and there’s no doubt that Gulfood is a hub, it’s a meeting point for a very wide region. So a lot of the people who both exhibit and go to Gulfood find this to be the trade show for them now. We’ve got bigger interest than ever from U.S. companies, we’ve got more companies exhibiting, and it will be very interesting to see what the atmosphere is. The Middle East remains a region which is very much dependent on imports for all foodstuffs, and so obviously this deep decline in the price of oil is going to have some impact on the economies of the region, but it doesn’t change the fact that they still have to import all of their food requirements.

Ralph Loos: While beef is the most popular item being displayed by U.S. exporters at Gulfood, Brook says buyers attending the event also have a strong interest in high-quality U.S. lamb. USMEF has been working with chefs and other foodservice professionals in the region to bolster demand for U.S. lamb.

John Brook: The workshops that were held for lamb in 2015 were a great success. They drew in a large number of chefs, and restaurant owners and operators. And so we hope very much that interest will continue, and that we will see some increase in shipments of U.S. lamb to the region.

Ralph Loos: For more on Gulfood and other marketing activities for U.S. red meat, please visit USMEF.org. For the U.S. Meat Export Federation, I’m Ralph Loos.