Technology
Forward-Thinking Food Firms Scoop top Honours at Gulfood Innovation Awards
Gulfood 2017, the 22 nd version of the world's biggest annual food industry exhibition, has crowned its Innovation Awards champions at a glimmering ceremony held at the Conrad Hotel.
The Innovation Awards, sponsored by Al Dahra, acknowledge and honour new and improved innovations and technologies being adopted by the 5,000 local, regional and global exhibitors taking part at the 1,000,000-square foot event going for Dubai World Trade Centre till Thursday 2 March.
Featuring a who's who of the global industry, one of those awarded was Green Island Foods from Ireland, which was crowned as Finest Halal Food Company winner.
" We are happy to get this respected award for our Goodfellas halal frozen pizza. It is an excellent testament to the effort and commitment of our team to creating a pizza variety which interest customers in the MENA region. The addition of our new doner kebab version is one more example of the innovative new product growth and we eagerly anticipate continued success and development in the icy pizza category." said Suzanne Conroy, Export Lead at Green Isle Foods.
Greenyards Frozen, from Belgium, revealed it was warm on consumer fads, picking up the award for Finest Frozen or Chilled Food. Frankie Vandermeiren, Commercial Director Retail and Food Service,
Greenyards Frozen Belgium NV stated: "Our winning item is our benefit line which is costs, better and based upon market demand as customers choose prepared to use benefit products without traditionalists and frozen right into mini portions. It's the excellent service to avoid food waste."
UAE firms also got in on the action on honors night, with Global Food Industries LLC (AL Batha Group) strolling off with 2 awards for Best Fruit and Vegetable Innovation and Best Meat and Poultry Innovation.
Jacek Plewa, General Manager of Global Food Industries LLC (Al Batha Group), claimed: "Being a UAE-based name, winning not one yet 2 Gulfood Innovation Award brings industry-wide acknowledgment, which reverberates far beyond the borders of our operations."
Other winners consisted of New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra, which took home the distinction for Finest Trade Stand between 40 -90 square metres;. The stand is shared by Fonterras business-to-business brand names NZMP and Support Food Professionals. " Our split-stand was made to show our top quality dairy products and pure New Zealand beginnings, and we are honoured that our stand was identified. Gulfood 2017 is a fantastic possibility for us to get in touch with key regional customers and showcase the industry-leading bulk components and foodservice services we can offer the Middle East food industry, "" claimed the agent of Fonterra Co-Operative Group.
The full checklist of Gulfood Innovation Honors winners included:
CATEGORY _ COMPANY NAME
BEST SOFT BEVERAGE - BIBITA
BEST SOFT BEVERAGE _ COCOMOJO
BEST HOT BEVERAGE _ AUTOMATIC BREWERS/ BARISTA ESPRESSO
BEST DIARY INNOVATION _ GRAHAMS THE HOUSEHOLD DAIRY PRODUCTS
BEST MEAT OR FOWL INNOVATION - GLOBAL FOOD INDUSTRIES LLC
BEST BAKED OR CONFECTIONERY - ATLANTIC FOODS
BEST DRESSING OR SAUCE - MAGRO BROTHERS FOODS LIMITED
BEST FROZEN OR COOLED FOOD - PINGUIN - GREENYARD FROZEN BEST VEGETABLES AND FRUIT
INNOVATION - GLOBAL FOOD INDUSTRIES LLC
BEST HALAL FOOD - GREEN ISLE FOODS
IDEAL ARTISAN OR LOCAL FOOD - GHANIM INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION SDN BHD
BEST ORGANIC PRODUCT - AUGA GROUP.
BEST FAST FOOD - DUMET AG.
BEST HEALTH AND HEALTH ITEM - KUWAIT FLOUR MILLS & BAKERIES CO.
. FINEST FAIR TRADE AL-WATANIA FOWL.
BEST FOOD SERVICE INNOVATION - ZILA KAVEHAZ KFT.
FINEST PACKAGING DESIGN - BIBITA.
BEST TRADE STAND (UP TO 40M ) - RASTELLI BROTHERS INC
BEST TRADE STAND (BETWEEN 40-90M ) - FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP.
BEST TRADE STAND (OVER 100 M ) - USAPEEC.