Bahrain Food and Hospitality showcase opens today

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and organized by Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA), the second annual Food & Hospitality Expo, Bahrain’s biggest-ever annual gathering of food, beverage, and hospitality industry professionals, will be officially opened today in Hall 2 at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre.

Making an impressive display for the kingdom, the show, in only its second year, has already doubled in size from the inaugural event in 2009 with over 82 exhibitors covering an area of 4,500 sq. meters and featuring a range of products and services related to all aspects of food and beverage, catering equipment, food processing technology, and packaging.

“The fact that the Food and Hospitality Expo event has doubled in size from its inaugural year once again highlights Bahrain’s strong position in attracting exhibitors to the kingdom and underlines its aptitude for continuing to grow important sectors,” said HE Dr Hassan Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce, Chairman of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority.

Dr. Fakhro praised the support of leading companies taking part including the biggest hypermarket chain in the Gulf, Lulu Hypermarket, which proudly takes a large spot on the 6,000-square-meter exhibition floor with a 320-square-meter stand; double the size of its entry in 2009. Having been impressed with the inauguaral event, Lulu Hypermarket has also come on board this year as a sponsor and will be displaying a number of premium brands at the expo.

According to participants, Food & Hospitality Expo, which will be open to the public from January 12-14, 2010, is Bahrain’s most important one-stop shopping platform that brings together an entire community of importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and large-scale buyers including hotels and restaurants.

For the first time ever, the Embassy of Thailand is showcasing the best that Thailand has to offer with a National Pavilion that will showcase authentic Thai food and other products and services of Thai companies engaged in the culinary and beverage industry.

During the exhibition, UK-based Steelite International, a leading manufacturer of innovative and inspirational tableware for the hospitality industry, will also be represented for the first-time at Food & Hospitality Expo 2010. It will launch its new, Symbol Fine Bone China and Porcelain ranges along with Tablekraft 18/10 stainless steel cutlery to further enhance the tabletop experience.

Nestle Bahrain will exhibit its products including Nescafé, Nestlé Cream, Nido Nestea, and Nestle bottled water alongside.

Babasons, Bahrain Modern Mills, Chinese Centre for Kitchen Equipment Co., The Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel, Gulf Hotel, Moevenpick Hotel, Regency Inter.Continental Hotel, Noor Al Bahrain, and Tariq Pastries will showcase the latest innovations in the industry.

In addition, BECA and Tamkeen are co-financing a showcase for Bahraini food industry Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with Tamkeen’s pavilion being organized in cooperation with the Bahrain Business Women’s Society.

Food & Hospitality Expo 2010 receives extensive support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Tamkeen’s, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and sponsorship from Bahrain Airport Services and Coca-Cola with Gulf Air as the official carrier. It has gained support from TUV Middle East (member of TUV NORD Group), a German Inspection, Certification, and Training Body, which will provide workshops with the objective of raising the food industry’s safety standards, preserving consumer confidence in the products of Bahrain’s food industry, and complying with the requirements of international food safety management system standards.

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