Uniting industry powerhouses and next-gen disruptors, Day 2 showcased a flurry of partnerships, world-first product launches and sensory experiences that are redefining how the world produces and experiences food
DUBAI – November 5th, 2025: The second day of Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 showcased a powerful lineup of activations, product launches and strategic collaborations as industry innovators united to capture synergistic growth across next-generation food and beverage manufacturing. With AI transforming the sector, driving a projected 45% CAGR through 20271 and 75% of F&B producers prioritising sustainability over cost efficiency and compliance,2 the industry is accelerating toward a smarter, greener future. Anchored by powerhouse exhibitors, buyers and investors, including Arla Foods Ingredients Group, Cargill, Givaudan Suisse SA, Heat and Control, Ingredion, Ishida Middle East, Rieckermann GmbH, Tetra Pak and Symrise AG, the show floor was alive with new partnerships, live presentations, immersive tours and breakthroughs in next-generation processing and packaging technology. Japan, Korea and Russia joined the exhibitor roster for the first time, underscoring the show’s expanding global footprint and double-digit year-on-year growth, a strong testament to the region’s rapidly advancing manufacturing landscape.
Pioneering Partnerships and Global Launches Forge the Future of Food
With the combination of projected growth of food & beverage in the Middle East poised at 6.5% CAGR,3 open trade corridors and (Middle East and North Africa) MENA fast becoming the engine room of AI-driven industrialisation 4 – Gulfood Manufacturing has confirmed its status as the ultimate springboard for transformative industry partnerships and the destination to reach the global manufacturing audience.
Commenting on the unique collaboration pushing the boundaries of taste and technology between Novonesis, a global front runner in biosolutions and Noma, widely celebrated as one of the world’s finest restaurants, Andrew Taylor, Executive Vice President of Food & Beverage Biosolutions at Novonesis said “What it means to be delicious varies by location. That’s why we have local labs all over the world. By teaming up with Noma, we are taking our knowledge of taste and texture to the next level, creating foods that are healthier, more flavorful, and better for the planet.”
Tetra Pak selected Gulfood Manufacturing as the destination for their global launch of their Tetra Pak® Factory OS™ – a portfolio of advanced automation and digital solutions for food and beverage producers that is set to transform traditional plants into smart, future-ready factories.
Konstantin Kolesnik, Managing Director, Tetra Pak Arabia Area, commented: “We are thrilled to be leveraging the dynamic backdrop of Gulfood Manufacturing this year to announce and showcase the latest innovations in food and beverage manufacturing that Tetra Pak is bringing to the Middle East. Our presence at this event is centered around highlighting innovation that enables our customers to meet changing consumer needs, advance sustainability, and tap new opportunities for growth. We see immense potential in bringing together global and regional players to accelerate progress, exchange ideas, and showcase technologies and look forward to joining subject matters experts at the show to discuss the latest innovations that are transforming the way food is packaged, processed, delivered and consumed.”
Gulfood Manufacturing Convened Industry Heavyweights from Across the Globe
Standing at the gateway to the world’s fastest-growing food economies, Gulfood Manufacturing united global industry leaders from across the food & beverage value chain, showcasing their latest breakthrough products to transform the trajectory of global manufacturing.
Heat and Control selected Gulfood Manufacturing as the most influential show in the region to launch their FastBack® Symphony On-Machine Seasoning (OMS) System, that delivers smarter, cleaner results with greater accuracy, efficiency and sustainability. “Our focus this year is on equipment that optimises operations while supporting sustainable production. Water management is especially important in this region, and our advanced solutions help food manufacturers save water, reduce costs, and boost line efficiency,” said Bobby Kane, General Manager, Western Europe, UK and Middle East, Heat and Control.
SIG showcased its new global partnership with Nutrition from Water (NXW) revealing a novel algae-based protein beverage in aseptic packaging, underscoring their joint commitment to affordable and sustainable nutrition. Abdelghany Eladib, President & General Manager, India, Middle East and Africa at SIG commented, “Our innovation and end-to-end system approach create real impact for both customers and consumers. This year, our focus is on the end consumer — showing how packaging can deliver safe, sustainable, and affordable nutrition while driving circularity and future-proof solutions for the industry.”
The FoodTech Summit: Charting the Next Frontier
At the heart of the show, the FoodTech Summit had a packed-out audience as industry visionaries, investor hubs and business leaders led a thought-provoking agenda and future-focused dialogue on infrastructure investment, clean labels, ingredient reformulation, AI and machine learning to improve yield and efficiency, digital twins and tech for cold chain integrity.
Renowned digital futurist Mark Minevich, President of Going Global Ventures, opened the summit with an address on Physical AI and Agentic AI: Redefining the Future of Food Manufacturing: “Gulfood Manufacturing is where the future of food is being redefined. Here, Physical AI and intelligent food systems are transforming manufacturing, strengthening supply chains, and shaping resilient food ecosystems that will feed the world while setting benchmarks for sustainable, sovereign food ecosystems.”
Sudhakar Tomar, President, India, Middle East Agri Alliance & Chairman, Bhrat Subcontinent Agri Foundation, commented on the poignance of the show for the industry, “Gulfood Manufacturing champions innovation and advanced manufacturing that shape the everyday food people trust and rely on. The show highlights smart solutions that cut costs, boost efficiency and build resilience across global supply chains. Gulfood has made Dubai’s shift from being an importer to a convergence point where trade and technology comes together.”
Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards
Honouring the sector’s most groundbreaking achievements, the Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards champions those driving real-world impact in highlighting excellence and accelerating progress, partnerships and purpose across global manufacturing.
- AI & Smart Manufacturing Innovation: Ishida Middle East – Sentinel 5.0: Unlocking the Future of Intelligent Food Production
- Best Food Safety Innovation: Aasted ApS – StellaNova with CIP (Clean-in-Place) System
- Best Packaging Innovation: SIG – SIG Terra Alu-free + Full Barrier
- Best Processing Innovation: KayDee Solutions LLC – Robot Avocado Line
- Functional Ingredient of the Year: ADM – Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 and ROBERTET – Lipowheat®Plant-based Phytoceramides
- Multisensory Experience Innovation Award: Novonesis – Novamyl® BestBite
- Non-Functional Ingredient of the Year: dsm-firmenich – ModulaSENSE® and TasteGEM® Carbonation Boosters
- Plant-Based Manufacturing Company of the Year: SMS Corporation – I-MEATEX™ SKV and Veins Corporate Services Pvt Ltd (Adaaya Farm) – Plant-Based Tableware Pioneer
- Renewable Energy Initiative: Krones AG – LineFlex eSync Pasteuriser
- Sustainable Company of the Year: Tetra Pak – Sustainability Across the Value Chain
Gulfood Manufacturing continues with the final day of the show open from 10.00am to 17.00pm.
For more information on Gulfood Manufacturing 2025, and to register, please visit: https://www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com/