Business

A delegation of officials from Dubai Duty Free (DDF), the worlds leading airport retailer, will attend this months Sweets & Snacks Middle East running October 27-29 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) - on a mission to source new ranges of confectionery products direct from international suppliers.

In 2014, confectionery sales contributed 8.52% to global DDF sales while the first nine months of this year have seen confectionery sales grow by 4.48% compared to the same period last year. With DDF sales expected to surpass the US$2 billion mark for the first time in 2015, DDF has identified confectionery sales as a key contributor in its latest record turnover target.
Confectionery sales continue to grow year-on-year and remain a core growth area of the business, said Saba Tahir, Vice President Purchasing, Vendor Support & Research, DDF.

With this years Sweets & Snacks Middle East which runs alongside The Speciality Food Festival and SEAFEX standing 25 per cent larger than the 2014 edition, DDF join key buyers from Emirates Flight Catering, Jumeirah Group, Spinneys and Saudi Arabias Manuel Supermarket in leveraging the dedicated trade platform to access thousands of confectionery products showcased by more than 300 specialised exhibitors. Chocolates are fast-selling items in DDF and we are eager to explore innovative and unique concepts in confectionery and sweet products to enhance the customer experience and bring incremental sales to the category. At present, DDF uses different suppliers who carry various products - we are sourcing them both locally and internationally. Sweets & Snacks Middle East provides a homegrown platform to source directly from local & international suppliers. Although international passengers constitute the vast majority of some 79 million passengers at Dubai International Airport purchasing confectioneries at DDF this year, domestic consumption habits and spending power on sweets, snacks and luxury goods in the UAE and Saudi Arabia continue to provide leading global chocolate and confectionery producers with vast regional investment opportunities.

According to recent Euromonitor data, the UAE and Saudi Arabia registered per capita spends of US$38 and US$31, respectively, in 2014 significantly higher than the US$4 spend per capita average across the Middle East and Africa.

Our trio of niche food shows welcomed over 13,000 dedicated buyers in 2014 and we are targeting more than 15,000 buyers - a 15 per cent increase - this year, said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management. Local, regional and international buyers understand the opportunities these shows provide in delivering a tailored sourcing platform for all their procurement needs. Open 10am-6pm from 27- 28 October and from 10am5pm on 29 October 2015, The Speciality Food Festival runs alongside Sweets and Snacks Middle East which is co-organised with Koelnmesse GmbH - and SEAFEX. All three shows are for trade and business professionals only. General public and persons under the age of 21 will not be permitted entry. Registration is available at the show upon proof of trade status.

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