Saudi Food Show Surges in Size, Expanding Global Reach and Influence

• Held under the patronage of H.E. Bandar Ibrahim Al Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and in Strategic Partnership with MODON

DUBAI – May 12, 2024: Building on the phenomenal success of its inaugural 2023 edition, the second Saudi Food Show - the largest global F&B sourcing event in the Kingdom - promises to surpass the first on every level. Taking place from 21-23 May at Riyadh Front, this year’s edition will be packed with exhibitors, buyers, expert speakers and features making their debut at the show, as the Kingdom continues to point the way for the F&B industry from its preeminent regional position.

Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, commented: “As the Saudi F&B industry expands and evolves, so we have taken The Saudi Food Show to a record scale for its second edition, on the back of outstanding levels of business transactions from the last edition, with tremendous new orders."

Over 90% of exhibitors international, marking the most global event yet

Over 1,000 exhibitors, more than double the number from the launch edition, including renowned industry giants ABP (Pepsi) Al Jomaih Bottling Company, Almarai, Americana, Aujan Beverages, Bidfood, BRF, First Mills, IFFCO, JBS, Lactalis, Nadec, Sadafco, Savola and many more are already confirmed. The show has also expanded in terms of global participation with diverse new country representation at the show for the first-time including Brazil, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Mexico, France, South Korea, Switzerland, Cambodia and many more offering a tantalising array of new tastes. With 94% of exhibitors coming from outside the Kingdom, Saudi Food Show 2024 will be a truly global F&B showcase.

Three days of carefully curated, actionable content

The Saudi Food Summit will be back, an opportunity to get invaluable expertise and actionable insights into the Saudi regulatory landscape and regional F&B trends, directly from over 90 government representatives, thought leaders and the F&B brands leading the way in the region, through engaging talks and dynamic panels. On the opening day, curated by The Saudi Food Show Strategic Partner MODON, attendees will hear from senior Saudi policy makers from across the Kingdom’s government on the strategic initiatives in place to expand the country’s F&B industry, and thus its contribution to the National Investment Strategy and Vision 2030. The second day of the Summit, driven by the Saudi Restaurants and Cafes Association, Qoot, will take a deep dive into the evolving F&B retail landscape in the Kingdom, with the leadership of key brands including Panda and Yalla Market confirmed to give their insights.

The final day will be centred around Saudifoodpreneur, a new series of workshops that will lift the lid on the dynamism and creativity in the F&B sector both in the Kingdom and across the GCC, and equip Saudi entrepreneurs to scale up their businesses. Curated by Homegrown CPG, Pitch Lounge, and Marketing Strategizer, the workshops will cover investor readiness, pocket-friendly and stress-free brand-building, and tips on how best to scale an F&B start-up, delivered by industry experts including Deepak Kaul, General Manager of The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Saudi Arabia.

Celebrity chefs to inspire culinary creativity

Top Table Saudi has once again brought together a star-studded line up of renowned international chefs, and local cooking icons, for the largest-ever gathering of celebrity chefs in the Kingdom. The 80+ chefs will captivate audiences with a series of exciting masterclasses unveiling innovative techniques, and showcasing both the international cuisines that have made their way onto menus in the Kingdom, as well as traditional local dishes, all the while exploring the cutting edge of cuisine.

Among the line-up of Michelin-starred chefs revealing their signature techniques and flavours at Top Table Saudi will be Simon Rogan, 3-Michelin starred chef of L’Enclume in the UK and a pioneer of the UK’s farm-to-table movement; Fatih Tutak, Chef and Owner of TURK, Turkey’s first 2-Michelin starred restaurant in Istanbul; Mona Mosly, one of the region’s most recognisable female celebrity chefs, renowned for her creative and innovative twist on classic dishes;  multi-award winning chef and restauranteur Sami Tamimi, co-owner of six London restaurants and author of several best-selling cookbooks; and Rakan Aloraifi, award-winning chef and Founder of KIt catering company.

For the first time outside of the studio, Top Table Saudi will also bring together the star chefs from popular reality TV show Top Chef Middle East to bring their unique take on Arab and Levantine cuisine to a wider audience, exploring both traditional and modern regional cuisine in all its uniqueness and diversity.

Empowering up-and-coming chefs

The YouthX Saudi Young Chef Challenge, designed to empower and showcase young talent working in Saudi hotels to a global audience, will this year take place in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  Through their ground-breaking ‘Recipe of Change’ initiative, the Challenge will amplify awareness of food waste and provide vital support to the public, the F&B and HORECA industries in realising UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, which aims to halve food waste by 2030. Teams of three chefs from some of the Kingdom’s leading hotels will compete for the chance to take part in the international finals in February 2025 at Gulfood, the world’s biggest food and beverage sourcing event. 

About KAOUN International

KAOUN International is the independent events company and wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organiser of Gulfood, the world’s largest food show, as well as Gulfood Manufacturing. KAOUN International was established to organize and manage events internationally, including the Saudi Food Show and SaudiFood Manufacturing, among others.

Derived from the Arabic word ‘universe’, KAOUN International’s mission is to ‘Create Limitless Connections’ for the industries and markets in which it operates. Created to leverage the 40-year legacy of DWTC’s events management business and drive future MICE sector opportunity in the MENASA region. KAOUN International delivers game-changing live experiences that build robust business connections, create opportunity, and stimulate economic growth, building on DWTC’s extensive portfolio of business and consumer events spanning multiple sectors, including technology, food and hospitality, sustainability, broadcast and satellite, automotive, talent development and leisure marine.

About dmg events

dmg events is a leading organizer of face-to-face events and publisher of information services. Our aim is to create dynamic marketplaces to connect businesses with the right communities to accelerate their growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. With a presence in over 20 countries and organizing more than 90 events each year, dmg events is a global leader in the industry. Attracting over 425,000 attendees and delegates annually, we organize events in the construction, hospitality, interiors & design, energy, coatings, entertainment, food & beverage and transportation sectors. To better serve our customers, dmg events has offices in 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, the UK, Canada, Singapore and India. By being on the ground, we can better understand market needs and nurture relationships to create unforgettable experiences for our attendees. Our flagship events including the Big 5 Global, ADIPEC, Gastech, EGYPES, The Hotel Show, INDEX and The Saudi Food Show. For more information visit www.dmgevents.com. Founded in 1989, dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.co.uk).