Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 16th, 2011: Like other segments of the food industry, the grocery retail circuit in the UAE will now have its own showcase at SIAL Middle East 2011 – the region’s premier B2B trade show for the food industry taking place from 21-23 November at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Abu Dhabi will host a dedicated trading platform for grocery store operators and managers at the event with a view to facilitate their efforts at modernization. Grocery @ SIAL Middle East is a first-of-its-kind exhibition developed to facilitate direct commercial exchange between grocers and food and store retail equipment manufacturers.
Mohammed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Communications and Community Services at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for SIAL Middle East, said: “We are keen on extending the necessary support required by grocery owners, just as we support all other segments of the food industry.
“Grocery @ SIAL Middle East will provide grocery owners more lucrative opportunities and better capacity to offer the best services to their customers and compete with other retail players.”
The three-day event, Al Reyaysa said, is a one-stop shop for grocers as they get ready to refurbish their premises and consider add-on services. “Grocers in Abu Dhabi are being invited by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority to visit the show and make the most out of this unique business platform,” he added.
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Fadi Saad, Group Exhibition Director of Turret Media, organiser of the trade show said, “The capital is currently host to 1,300 grocery stores generating an annual turnover of US$272million.
Grocery store operators can now source goods and services from the original producers directly, thereby maximizing their returns on product sales. Moreover, manufacturers can meet purchasers in the grocery retail circuit, get their products enlisted in grocery stores and reach the target consumer’s day-to-day life.”
Grocery @ SIAL Middle East will also feature a replica of a new ‘Baqala’ store to provide a clear picture of the modernized grocery stores. Food and beverage products, till and labelling machines, uniforms, display and storage equipment, external canopies, delivery vehicles, CCTV systems, ATMs, specialized decorators and contractors will form a major part of the exhibition.
The exhibition will host workshops and presentations for grocery owners to explain the sector's overall functioning, finance raising process, and the implementation of the right value-added services to increase competitiveness and profitability.
Saad said: “The implications involved in where and how to raise the capital to renovate properties cannot be ruled out. The workshops offer a valuable opportunity for grocery owners to understand the theoretical and practical factors of raising finance, preparing funding proposals and the investment appraisal method of lenders and investors.”
SIAL Middle East 2011 will take place 21 -23 November at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. More than 12,000 trade visitors from 80 countries are expected to attend this year as the trade show will host over 500 exhibitors and 16 national pavilions from Turkey, Argentina, Korea, China, Taiwan, Iran, France, Italy, Poland, Vietnam, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Egypt and the UAE. The pavilions will feature international companies showcasing an array of food products and services, some of them never seen before in the region.