MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), along with Minnesota-based agribusinesses, recently attended Dubai’s Gulfood 2017, one of the largest international food and beverage trade shows in the world. Roughly 5,000 exhibitors from over 150 countries drew a crowd of 95,000 to the trade show in the United Arab Emirates.
For the first time, the show featured dedicated halls segmented into eight of the largest commodity trading markets in the industry: Beverages, Dairy, Fats & Oils, Health & Wellness, Pulses & Grains, Meat & Poultry, World Food, and Power Brands. The show also included cooking demonstrations and competitions and an ice carving competition.
Dauus, a Bloomington-based company, found that international attendees voiced considerable interest in products made in the US, which is good for Minnesota given its strong roots in food processing and innovation. Since Gulfood, Dauus has closed one sale and has at least seven serious leads for future sales. Mohamed Guled, Chief Executive Officer at Dauus, says the company would like to return to Gulfood in 2018.
The USA Pavilion included locations in the World Food, Dairy, and Meat & Poultry halls and was one of the largest National Pavilions at the show with over 165 exhibitors. Minnesota food companies ranged from ingredients to snack foods.
— Minnesota Department of Agriculture
For more news from Minnesota, click here.