< PreviousGeneral Mills has expand- ed its product portfolio in the Saudi Arabian market through a new partnership with Ahmad A. Abed Manu- facture and Trading compa- ny to develop and distribute Pillsbury’s foodservice range. Ahmad A. Abed Trading is the largest bakery ingre- dients food supplier in the Saudi market, trading in over 3,500 products, and the two companies have agreed on a business development plan for all Pillsbury’s baking solu- tion across dry mixes, frozen food, whipped cream, and spreads categories. The new collaboration means Pillsbury will become the largest dry mixes sup- plier for American goods in the Saudi market, and it plans to double the size of its foodservice business in the Middle East and Africa in the coming years. The 150-year-old brand has recently introduced a number of new dry mixes to market including crème cake mixes, sponge cake mixes, cup cake mixes, donut mixes, pancake mixes, waffl e mixes, and crepe mixes. Pillsbury foodservice range now available in KSA Provacuno brings Spanish beef to the UAE General Mills has introduced the range in collaboration with Ahmad A. Abed Trading Held a number of masterclasses and events in Dubai Provacuno, the agro-food inter-professional organization of the Spanish beef industry, has been making inroads into the UAE through a number of masterclasses and events. The ICCA in Dubai was the scene of one such showcase, as chef Kisko Garcia, of the one Michelin-starred Choco restaurant in Cordoba, put some of the students through their paces using examples of Spanish beef to create a number of signature dishes. Media and chefs from the UAE were also in attendance as Garcia explained the qualities of diff erent types of beef and how they can be used in diff erent ways, highlighting their versa- tility and fl avour. Provacuno also hosted a meeting for po- tential buyers and importers of Spanish beef in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Dignitaries including the Spanish ambas- INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS Saudi Arabia invests in dark kitchens Uber founder Travis Kalanick has received investment of $400 million from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign- wealth fund for his new company CloudKitchens. CloudKitchens provides full kitchen services to companies that wish to open virtual restaurants without front- of-house service for delivery only. Irish dairy imports to UAE increase Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, has announced a record AED113 million in Irish dairy exports to the UAE in the first half of 2019, and an 80% increase in dairy exports from Ireland to the UAE between 2010 and 2018. According to the latest research released by Bord Bia, dairy exports from Ireland to the UAE increased by 23% to over 11,400 tonnes between January and July 2019, compared to 9,279 tonnes during the same period in 2018. The value increased from AED102 million in H1 2018 to AED113 million this year. Italian fruit showcased in the UAE CSO Italy, the Italian consortium of fruits and vegetables, with the financial aid of the European Union, is seeking to increase awareness and appreciation of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables from Italy in the UAE with its campaign Fresh Up Your Life – European top-quality fruit & veg. The European continent benefits from a very diverse climate and varying environmental and soil conditions, which help grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables. In 2018, European countries grow a total of 46.9 million tons of fruits and 55.6 million of vegetables. Europe’s leading producers are Italy and Spain, which reach 42% of the total production. ROUND UP: The ICCA hosted a Provacuno event with Kisko Garcia. The Pillsbury doughboy will now be seen in Saudi Arabia. sador Antonio Alvarez Barthe were also in attendance as Garcia prepared a range of Spanish dishes using beef cheek, sirloin, and T-bone steak. The Spanish beef industry is targeting the UAE due to the small amount of beef it pro- duces in comparison to how much it con- sumes, meaning that a large quantity of beef is imported each year. Supplier News Update Caterer Middle East | December 2019 40/ www.caterermiddleeast.comGIMLET PROVENCAL LA PETITE MAISON ASSISTANT HEAD BARTENDER DENIS PASHKOV TELLS US HOW TO MAKE A GIMLET PROVENCAL WITH HELP FROM GIFFARD MENTHE PASTILLE “Gimlet Provençal is a refreshing and floral cocktail that leaves a cooling sensation when the aftertaste is gone. That is what Menthe Pastille brings to the drink along with a hint of mints that we would sneak from the kitchen cupboard when we were little, while the parents were chatting in the living room. Such flavours, smells, and trigeminal effects evoke our memories of the childhood. They call it Proustian Phenomenon. When I work on a new cocktail, I always think of it as something more complex than just a flavoursome mix. And if you make a drink that brings up emotions and memories, you do a good job. And that's what Giffard did when they made Menthe Pastille, and now any bartender can easily use that trick if the balance is found.” Denis Pashkov, La Petite Maison, assistant head bartender INGREDIENTS: • 40 ml Terre Mistral gin • 20 ml Giffard Menthe Pastille • 10 ml LPM lavender & pineapple cordial • 25 ml lime juice • 15 ml cellulose solution (vegan friendly substitute of egg white) METHOD Shake. Dry shake. Strain into a Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a branch of dried lavender Gimlet Provencal Drink 360° www.caterermiddleeast.com /41 December 2019 | Caterer Middle East Gulfood Manufacturing is the place to be for the industrial side of the F&B industry to meet their clients face-to-face What started as a spin-off of Gulfood is now a behemoth in its own right. Covering 19 exhibition halls and with over 1,500 companies showcasing their products, Gulfood Manufacturing has become the place to be for machinery, equipment, and ingredient suppliers. Visitors from over 100 countries made up the 35,000 people who attended Dubai World Trade Centre for three days at the end of October, and they were given an insight into the future of food production. For the exhibitors it was a chance to reach out to new clients from around the world and to release their latest products into the public eye. Exhibitors also came from across the globe, with the Irish food board Bord Bia fulfi lling its mission to help its local F&B industry by bringing a number of diff erent companies to the show. Claudia Saumell, Bord Bia director, Middle East markets, said it was a chance for these companies to expand into new markets with the aim of in- creasing their exports. “It’s been very positive,” she said. “All the companies were busy and had stands that were full constantly. But all of them say it’s not the volume of visitors but it’s the quality of visitors.” Saumell added that while some were looking to expand, others were using Gulfood Manufacturing as a chance to strengthen relationships with customers Exhibitors came from around the world. Gulfood Manufacturing at DWTC. MANUFACTURING CONTACTS Event Review Gulfood Manufacturing Caterer Middle East | December 2019 www.caterermiddleeast.com 42/in the UK.” For brands looking to move away from a reliance on the UK, the Middle East has proven popular. Joe Guiney, sales and mar- keting director at C.P. Ingredients spoke highly of how the show went for them. He said: “Last year was very success- ful but we heard things might be a bit quieter, a bit more relaxed this year… We were absolutely flat out! It’s been a fantastic experience, we’ve been inun- dated with enquiries. “It’s a critical market for us, it’s a market that’s been growing for us. It’s a market that understands our products, it understands the concept of what we’re selling. It’s a very frank and open area to do business in and they’ve got a wonderful attitude to opening up to you in terms of exploring solutions together.” Kells managing director Robert Mosse said the company was also hoping to expand further in the region, and add to its current distributor in Jordan. The Irish fl our supplier is known for its bakery premixes for the likes of sponge cake and pancakes, but Mosse said it had identifi ed the trend for healthy food as an area in which it needed to grow. “It’s one big area we’re trying to push so we have protein bread mixes in whole- meal and white, and also reduced sugar cakes,” explained Mosse. Of course it wasn’t just Ireland that was encouraging its manufacturers to head to Dubai. Food processing technol- ogy firm Fruittech attended the show at the invitation of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. With a focus on small capacity food pro- cessors, CEO Grubmair Stefan was positive about the company’s initial reception, saying that it was “surprisingly good” and he was excited about upcoming projects in both the Middle East and Africa. “At the crossroads of innovation and focusing on future trends” is how Lesaff re International brand content manager Stephan Beague described Gulfood Man- ufacturing, also calling the show “very attractive” for the brand. He added: “To participate is very im- portant for us because we are developing our position in the Gulf with a new facility aiming to serve our customers to help them meet their own expectations and help them face their own challenges daily.” For Lesaff re the opportunity to interact with their distributors in the region face- to-face makes the show worthwhile alone. Resom global technical manager Alexander Atanasov spoke about how this year’s show was “much better than last year” with the brand making some great contacts over the three days. Showcasing its new integrity tester, Atanasov was keen to extoll the benefi ts it has to the F&B industry due to not using any chemicals, and said Gulfood Manufac- turing was vital to help Resom move into the Middle East and North African markets. Robert Greimel, the CEO of Zaltech, also cited the wide range of attendees as one of the reasons why the spice mixture producer has been attending Gulfood Manufacturing since its inception. “We really appreciate the show,” he said. “We get more professional customers here. One reason to come here frequently is people are coming from India to Africa — people can easily visit Dubai.” While the act of spinning off Gulfood Manufacturing from its parent event may have been seen as a risk, it seems to be working out for the exhibitors and attendees. they already had in the region. Such was the case for Glanbia Ireland, whose general manager for the Middle East and Africa, Kieran Duggan, said while they hadn’t met a raft of new customers, the time was well spent reengaging with old ones. “It’s a great networking opportunity,” he said. “It’s building the projects that we’re working on with companies in the region.” As the largest dairy processor in Ire- land, Glanbia has been taking advantage of the removal of the milk quota system in 2015 to expand into more international markets, with Gulfood Manufacturing be- ing a key foothold for them in the region. The importance of Gulfood Manufac- turing to Irish companies was highlighted by Billy O’Meara, the operations manager at Clara Fields, who said that its strategic analysis of markets around the world found that the Middle East was the perfect fi t for its products, and Gulfood Manufac- tuing the best trade show to attend. “It has the customer profi le we’re look- ing for,” he said. “And we’re here because of Brexit. We really need a diff erent mar- ket from the UK. We’re heavily exposed at the moment as 90-95% of our business is Reach Food Service (above) has recently opened a Dubai offi ce. Gulfood Manufacturing www.caterermiddleeast.com Event Review /43 December 2019 | Caterer Middle East Fabien Firetto, director of Bragard Middle East, tells us what we can expect from it in the new year BRAGARD Contact: Bedaia building, offi ce 604, Al Barsha 1, Dubai T: 971 4 395 16 11 E: contactme@bragard.com W: www.bragard.com Bragard has a new range of eco-friendly uniforms coming soon. TOP SUPPLIERS OF 2020 Tell us about your company? Bragard is an 86 years old French compa- ny, specialised in hospitality uniforms. A world leading brand recognises by chefs all over the world, Bragard maintains full control over the entire manufacturing chain: from the rational and committed selection of raw materials, to the creation of our collections by our expert teams at our workshops in Epinal. The majority of our raw materials are locally or regionally sourced, and a large fraction of the collec- tion is made from fabric bearing the France Terre Textile seal of approval. Sell it to me! What’s new? Our 2020 catalogue is around the corner! Still confi dential but lot of new designs will be off ered to our chefs to wear. An eco-friendly collection will be back in our catalogue. To make our contribution to a sustainable world, we have designed and made this collection as an eco-friendly act. Wearing one of these products does not just mean that you’ve chosen a comfort- able, high-quality jacket, but also that you’re taking action in favour of the planet. Our linen is produced in Normandy. Highly resistant, absorbent, hypo-allergenic, and heat-regulating. The Newlife process is a unique patented process, made of recycled polyester threads that come 100% from plastic bottles collect- ed and transformed into polymers by a me- chanical, not a chemical, process. Newlife is distinguished from other recycling process- es thanks to its high performance level, its end quality, and its eco-friendliness. Discover our full range from January 2020. Caterer Middle East | December 2019 44/ www.caterermiddleeast.comFind out why you should be dealing with BioPak come 2020 BIOPAK TOP SUPPLIERS OF 2020 Tell us about your company? Founded in 2006, BioPak is the lead- ing eco-friendly foodservice packaging company in Australia and New Zealand. We offer carbon neutral compostable packaging made from rapidly renewable, plant-based raw materials for busi- nesses who, like us, want to preserve and protect the environment for current and future generations. Our innovative packaging solutions are designed for a circular economy. It starts with responsibly sourced materials, continues with environmentally certi- fied manufacturing processes, and ends with disposal options that see resources reused or regenerated. We recently launched our product range in Singapore and will soon be avail- able also in the United Arab Emirates. Sell it to me! What’s new? We have a wide and varied range of products – from coffee cups and cold drink cups, to plates, bowls and trays, napkins, bags and more. Our hot takeaway BioCups are made with paper sourced from managed plan- tations, and lined with Ingeo bioplastic, making them the only certified commer- cially compostable cups in Australia and New Zealand. Our clear BioCups, BioBowls, lids and BioCutlery are made from plants, not oil. They are the only clear bioplastics certified commercially compostable to AS4736, which helps stop waste being sent to landfill. The BioCane range, including take- away containers, bowls, clamshells and plates, is made from rapidly renewable sugarcane pulp, a by-product of the sugar-refining industry which is often otherwise burned. The range is certified industrially and home compostable. Contact: Concord Tower, Offi ce 2607, Dubai Media City T: 055 892 7548 E: marketing@biopak.com W: biopak.com /45 December 2019 | Caterer Middle East www.caterermiddleeast.comWhy should you work with Ronai? Let managing director Gavin Dodd fi ll you in on what the tableware and uniform supplier has coming up RONAI Contact: First Al Khail Street, Al Quoz 3 T: +971 4 3414409 E: enquiries@ronai.ae W: www.ronai.ae TOP SUPPLIERS OF 2020 Tell us about your company? Established in the UK in 1947 with expansion in the UAE from 2006, A. Ronai LLC is the Middle East distributor of some of the world’s most prestigious brands in Hospi- tality including Genware, Pillivuyt, Royal Crown Derby, Bonzer, Comas and other well-known trademarks. Our ‘Uniforms by Ronai’ catalogue, created by our in- house designer and manufactured in the UAE, features a host of garments suitable for all job functions. We off er fi xed pricing together with a high level of service including stock holding. Sell it to me! What’s new? This year we have expanded our portfolio to include the recently transformed Dudson chinaware and the modern and sleek Nude glassware. The Dudson range includes traditional favourites to the classic lines. From casual to fi ne dining restaurants and everything in between, Harvest’s industrial tough- ness stands up to everyday use in a professional kitchen environment. The collection features new additions into the fi ve existing colours, natural, linen, brown, green and blue as well as new colour ways, grey and harvest ink with items and colours that can be mixed and matched to suit. Dudson Evo Origins’ appeal lies in its ability to look at home in any surroundings, with the addition of any cuisine the range immediately springs to life. Available in two colours midnight black and natural grey it’s eye-catching and available in a range of plates and bowls designed to work together. Nude off ers a complete glassware solution for the hospitality industry. Known for design excellence, the portfolio delivers exceptional products with an ethos in simplicity. The glassware is always fi t for purpose, practical, sturdy, and usable Look out for our new disposable line coming in 2020! Caterer Middle East | December 2019 46/ www.caterermiddleeast.comLowe Rental chief operating offi cer, Asia, Mark Wood tells us what the refrigeration supplier has planned for Expo 2020 LOWE RENTAL TOP SUPPLIERS OF 2020 Tell us about your company? Founded in 1977, Lowe Rental has grown to be a global supplier of refrigeration, catering equipment and cold storage solutions. Since Lowe’s expansion into Dubai in 2012, the company has become renowned within the exhibitions, events, hospitality, and retail markets in United Arab Emirates. Currently, Lowe are the offi cial supplier for the UK pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai With a large inventory to meet demand, Lowe’s success in UAE has been due to the team’s capability to undertake projects of all shapes and sizes and deliver success. Sell it to me! What’s new? Lowe off er a comprehensive range of servic- es to UAE. Whether you require temporary catering facilities for an upcoming event or need maintenance work carried out on your existing equipment; Lowe’s local fl air and expertise makes them the ideal partner. Lowe are now off ering annual main- tenance plans for businesses in United Arab Emirates. Perfect for busy hotels and restaurants, ensure your equipment stays operational with Lowe’s expert technicians. Annual maintenance plans are custom- ised to each business. Following an equip- ment survey the team determine the level of service required and provide a bespoke plan. Annual maintenance contracts are available for all refrigeration and catering equipment - regardless of manufacturer. The Lowe team are always ready for a challenge with special projects. From cater- ing facilities for travelling fi lm sets in the desert to six-month hotel refurbishment projects; the team provide a fl exible solu- tion for complex requirements. There’s not long to go until the eagerly anticipated Expo 2020 Dubai takes place. Lowe is just 1km from the expo site and will be providing refrigeration, catering equip- ment and cold rooms to several pavilions and F&B outlets. Contact: DIP 1 First Gulf Properties Warehouse Complex Warehouse WJ1 & WJ2 PO Box 392327 Dubai, UAE T: +971 4 882 9440 E: info@lowerental.com www.lowerental.com/ae /47 December 2019 | Caterer Middle East www.caterermiddleeast.comHERBAL LAND MINERAL WATER TRADING MONIN TOP SUPPLIERS OF 2020 Tell us about your company? Herbal Land Mineral Water Trading, doing business as Lanjarón Arabia Distributors, is the exclusive distributor for Lanjarón pure natural mineral water in UAE, Saudi, and 9 other Arab countries. Lanjarón is the oldest bottled water in Spain, from the highest mountains in mainland Spain, and from a town with the highest life expectancy in Spain. And Spain was named the healthiest country in the world by Bloomberg this year. Sell it to me! What’s new? Lanjarón Arabia recently launched a new product geared for 5-star restaurants. One of the top steakhouses in one of the top hotels in Abu Dhabi is the fi rst to off er the best pure natural mineral water served from a beautiful Flaska Luxury Vodan Jug. Flaska is a reusable glass jug which helps you care for your health as well as the environment. It is made from glass and is programmed using the TPS (Technology of Programming Silicon) procedure. A bottle programmed this way changes the water’s vibrational structure. Flaska cooperated with the famous water scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto laboratory from Tokyo to master this glass piece. 6.25L Lanjarón bottle: 20% plant based, 100% recyclable, 100% BPA-free, fi lled with 100% pure mountain natural mineral water. Light to transport vs heavy glass. Guaranteed always chilled from extreme heat. Aff ordable! So it works like this: restaurant orders our 6.25L bottles at a very competitive price. The $50 fl askas will be provided complimentary by Lanjarón Arabia. The staff serves Lanjarón from the Flaska glass jug, attached with a story, an emotional experience, and cool mountain water that tastes amazing. Tell us about your company? Monin is a family owned French company, with over 100-years heritage in fl avouring business and a truly global reach – over 150 countries. Monin became the referent brand for the bartenders and baristas worldwide. With over 150 fl avours in the current portfolio and innovative fl avour launches twice a year, we off er the possibility for professionals to create drinks, depending on their needs and the moments of the day. Monin is known for its premium quality where only the fi nest ingredients are used. Sell it to me! What’s new? The Middle East is well known for cherishing their traditions, whether it’s religious holidays celebration, folk music, traditional dresses, or family gatherings around the table, where the beloved dishes and beverages are served. When it comes to oriental fl avours, date, saff ron, and fi g are amongst the favourite ones. A symbol of wealth and abundance, dates have rich, complex fl avours with hints of herbs and fruitiness, providing signifi cant nutritional value. Our new Le Fruit de Monin Date is an indulgence by itself. Even more so once added to a latte, milkshake, or a dessert. The king of spice saff ron is known as the most expensive spice in the world. Originated in Persia in 7th century BC, it brings a rich heritage to every meal. Our new Le Sirop de MONIN Saff ron with its unmistakable fl oral, herbal, and exotic scent and the taste is perfect for teas, coff ees, milkshakes, and culinary applications. The new Le Fruit de Monin Fig, sharp and sweet with a hint of sour, will bring that be- loved fl avour to your drinks. Contact: Suite 907 – Jumeirah Business Centre – Cluster G – JLT, Dubai UAE Phone number: +97144520600 E-mail: ocassidy@monin.com Website: www.monin.com Contact: T: 050.9210655 E: jason@lanjaronarabia.com W: www.lanjaronarabia.com Caterer Middle East | December 2019 48/ www.caterermiddleeast.comIs 2020 the time for tea? Jaff erjee Brothers has the answer JAFFERJEE BROTHERS TOP SUPPLIERS OF 2020 Tell us about your company? Jaff erjee Brothers is a tea and herbal company based in Sri Lanka. Established in 1944, it currently exports its fl agship brands Jaf Tea and Te Reval to over 30 countries across the globe. Our brands off er Single Origin premium teas which are packed where they are grown to preserve their fl avour, freshness and provenance. Uniquely, our award winning Té Reval product line uses only 100% natural botanicals such as herbs, spices, fl owers and essential oils to create our fl avour sensations. While Jaf Tea fea- tures a very wide range of black, green, oolong and fl avoured teas to cater to all moods and sensations. All our black teas in teabags are rainforest alliance certifi ed. Sell it to me! What’s new? In 2020, all our Te Reval products will be certifi ed organic while maintaining the great taste and fl avour of our products. We are also launching a new organic wellness line under Jaf Tea which will uniquely feature the herbs from both the eastern and western pharmacopeia. Along with it we are also launching our Green Tea Matcha Plus teabag line. Contact: 150 St. Joseph’s Street, Co- lombo 01400, Sri Lanka T: +9411-2432051 E: tea@jb.slt.lk W: www.jaftea.com /49 December 2019 | Caterer Middle East www.caterermiddleeast.comNext >