By Saleh Fareed
Saudi Gazette
THE 22nd edition of Saudi Food, Hotel & Hospitality Exhibition is hailed as a major success as it concluded a four-day run at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events with visitor numbers up over 7,000 visitors this year and a number of exhibitors already in process of signing contracts and agreements with Saudi co-partners.
Showcasing the latest products in the food and beverage industry, from ovens and ware washers, to food suppliers and hospitality materials, show organizers also announced that next year’s show looks set to grow again, with more additional participants.
“Feedback from our exhibitors and visitors has been extremely positive. We are definitely looking forward to 2018, Zahoor Siddique, Vice President of Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) commented at the final day of the show.
Exhibitors at this year’s show were also positive about the event, with a number of companies securing large deals, including SENEXPO from Turkey which brought to the exhibition around 20 companies from the agriculture and food industries.
“First of all, our main goal is to serve these Turkish companies and to promote their products here in Saudi Arabia which is considered as the biggest market in the region,” said Ihsan OZBEY, sales director of SENEXPO.
He noted that many of their companies have signed deals and partnerships with Saudi companies and local dealers, as “this event has provided us with a perfect platform to further develop internationally,” he added.
Meanwhile, Elias Kassab, president of Brazil Export & Import, said, “The level of interest has been satisfactory. We encountered many queries during the four-day event.”
“We have received an overwhelming response and this is the first time we are participating. We have obtained useful contacts with professionals in the food industry here in Jeddah and are definitely looking forward to returning to the next edition of the exhibition,” He added. The profile of the 22nd edition of Saudi Food, Hotel & Hospitality Exhibition included food and beverage, hotel refrigeration and catering equipment, hotel supplies and services, food processing machinery, food packaging and labeling equipment, disposable items, and hospitality information systems.
