News
Friday, March 8, 2024
A Recap of Gulfood 2024
Gulfood happens every year, and we’re so glad it does. Gulfood, one of the world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibitions enables industry players to present their products and services, engage different cultures and connect industry’s stakeholders. Orestis Yakas, a Sales Trader at Sucafina, a leading sustainable Farm to Roaster, Swiss-based coffee company, shares his experience at Gulfood, including the invaluable insights he gained into the evolving landscape of the coffee industry and beyond.
I arrived at Gulfood in Dubai and spent 5 days engaging with producers, manufacturers, importers and all the other people involved in the intricate coffee supply chain. Here's a snapshot of the key themes and sentiments that spread throughout the event:
Sustainability
One big topic on everyone’s minds was sustainability. Companies showcased eco-friendly solutions, like recyclable packaging and responsibly sourced ingredients, reflecting a growing interest in environmental issues. Those downstream showed an immense interest in these sustainability solutions.
Collaboration
Gulfood fostered a spirit of collaboration with industry players coming together to explore potential partnerships and share ideas. The vibe was all about friendship and helping each other out in order to ultimately help the industry out. We observed a solid presence of Brazilian, Indian and Ethiopian coffee suppliers as exhibitors and everyone else was interested in bringing producers closer to those at the other end of the supply chain, which remains an important and growing target.
Innovation
Many coffee roasters and baristas who were present were showcasing innovative products and concepts, from new flavor combinations to groundbreaking brewing techniques. There continues to be a thirst in the industry for novelty and innovation, both in processes and end products. The trick is determining which ideas will peter out and which will take off.
Optimism
Despite challenges like supply chain disruptions, there was an overall sense of optimism about the future of the coffee industry. Attendees remained hopeful and determined to overcome obstacles through innovation and resilience.
Orestis Yakas is a Sales Trader at Sucafina S.A. He graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Maritime Business. It's there that he picked up some serious skills in contract law, international trade, and logistics – all skills that come in handy for his position today.