Interview SSME 2015: “In the Arabian Gulf, rising disposable incomes are increasing demand for more premium products”
Sweets and Snack Middle East (SSME) is the trade fair where world’s top producers and traditional manufacturers meet, being the MENA region’s leading platform for the international sweets, confectionery and snack industries. SSME is preparing to bring more exhibitors and more visitors in Dubai World Trade Center (UAE), October, 27-29, than at the previous editions. To find more about what the organizers prepare for this edition, we spoke with Mr. Khalid Al Fahim, exhibition director, Sweets & Snack Middle East 2015.
By Ioana Oancea
How would you characterize SSME evolution since its first edition, as core features and concepts and new entries over time?
Khalid Al Fahim: SSME was first developed and launched nine years ago to serve as a dedicated regional platform for the international sweets, confectionery and snack industries. The event features a mix of international and Middle Eastern products in a tailored platform for buyers from across the entire MENA region. With more exhibitors than ever before, we expect footfall at SSME 2015 to surpass last year’s attendance of 7,022 visitors from more than 83 countries.
What are the most recent confectionery trends and innovations with a market-driving influence that will be reflected at SSME 2015 stands?
According to recent data from Euromonitor International, the global sweets, confectionery and snack industries have witnessed 20 percent year-on-year growth since 2010. Similar growth is predicted this year. A recent UAE Chocolate Market Opportunities & Forecast 2019 report by TechSci Research has also predicted that UAE citizens’ busier lifestyles are fostering higher intakes of high-fat foods and creating a demand from health-conscious consumers for sugar-free chocolates.
Please give us more details of the Innovation Awards 2015 and Innovation Gallery.
SSME 2015 will also host the Innovation Awards 2015 – a special platform to recognise the most innovative, market-oriented confectionery and snacks products. The winning products in each category will go on display in the show’s Innovation Gallery, while all entries will feature in an online innovation gallery on the event’s website.
Please give us some details regarding opportunities (such as the presence of Innova Market Insight and the Innovation Awards) concerning the agenda at this year’s show in Dubai.
Innova Market Insights will highlight key trends in snacking at SSME 2015, at its dedicated booth (CC2-20) on the concourse. According to Innova, two key trends to watch out for in 2016 relate to high protein and popped chips.
The company recorded that four percent of all global snack foods launched from May 2014 to the end of April 2015 included products with high protein content. This figure rose to nearly 13 per cent in the USA.
Even in the traditional savory snack market, ongoing innovation is adding new categories and hybrids to the sector, with popped snacks being a recent success. Made with potatoes, corn flakes or other cereal pieces, popped chips are manufactured using heat and pressure, and are marketed as a healthier, guilt-free option to standard fried and baked products.
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WORLDBAKERS.COM & ITS DIGITAL MAGAZINE
WorldBakers.com is delivering a unique service, through the first digital standardized format for tablets and mobile phones, for the bakery and biscuit industries.
In our latest publication you will be able to experience a lot of interesting interactive features, with latest bakery and biscuit production news. We would like to point two of them, especially created and inspired by the Sweets and Snacks Middle East show: TRENDS – ‘Going organic and free-from in Asia’ and SHOWTIME – ‘Sweets & Snacks Middle East to showcase market growth’.
Our format is approved and developed by an international institution – the International Digital Publishing Forum. As a 26–year-old b2b publishing house, we felt the need to introduce and create it for the industries we follow. Even though our print magazines still retain the highest value for us and remain our core business, we want to provide the experience of reading the best picks of the content in a digital format.
Steps for download:
- Go to home page of www.worldbakers.com where you will find the latest issues of the Digital magazine
- Before choosing between tablet and mobile version, be sure to check do you have a necessary APP that will read it;
- forAndroid phone/tablet: Publiwide, Google Play Books or Gitden reader
- for iOS/iPhone/iPad: iBooks
Of course you can read our publication from desktop computer as well, in that case we recommend you opt for tablet version beforehand you should check do you have any of these APPs:
- for PC computer: Adobe Digital Editions 4, Readium extension for Chrome web browser
- for MAC computer: iBooks (OS X Mavericks and Yosemite), Adobe Digital Editions 4, Readium extension for Chrome web browser