Beverage products entering the Middle Eastern market need to be clean label and low in sugar in order to gain a strong local foothold, with both regulatory pressure and consumer demand firmly pushing trends in this direction.
The palm oil sector will need to emphasise how its current sustainability and development strategies are also ‘future-oriented’ beyond standards and certifications if it is to successfully penetrate new markets in the Middle East.
Nestle Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is striving to create more innovative products for the region, following the launch of Quality Street dates, while also pledging to double down on its sustainability efforts.
Confectionery giant Mars GCC has entered the premium chocolate market in the Middle East region with its Galaxy Kenz offerings, with the firm hoping to eat in to the market share enjoyed by the likes of Lindt and Godiva.
Bunge Loders Croklaan has launched its clean label and ‘healthier’ version of cocoa butter replacer for the confectionery industry, in an attempt to capitalise on demand for more healthy options in the Middle East.
The market will increase at a CAGR of 2% thanks to diversification and interest in premium, high-end and indulgent white chocolate products, according to a Technavio report.
Add another flagship store to Pierre Marcolini’s 40-plus portfolio: the Brussels-based chocolatier opened a brand new shop on the ground floor of the world’s biggest mall, in Dubai.
The UAE brand, which successfully debuted in 2008 and entered the global market in 2009, produces chocolate ‘of the very highest quality’ using camel milk as the core ingredient.
Current trends and innovations for sweets and snacks in the MENA region take over Dubai Trade Centre in what is becoming a growing and significant market for confectioners.
UK confectioner Bon Bon Buddies (BBB), 80% of whose business is in licensing, has unveiled a branded range of sour candies with new packaging under its Brain Blasterz range.
Aldomak, which makes fudge and macaroons and supplies supermarkets with a range of confectionery and oat-based products has won its first order from a retail chain in Abu Dhabi.
French premium chocolate firm Yves Thuriès has expanded distribution to Qatar and Kuwait after launching macaroon-shaped chocolates using a special coating process.
Lebanese firm Master Chewing Gum & Candies hopes to take its mastic chewing gum brand Mastika to Brazil as it ramps up distribution in the Middle East.
Fitmeals is hoping its sugar-free, pea-protein fortified snacking chocolate can satisfy demand for healthier snacking in Germany, which it says has potential to be as big as in the UK.
Turkish confectioner Ülker is aiming to become the leader in Egypt’s biscuit market and hopes to expand in the Middle East & North Africa, Central Asia, Russia and China through recent acquisitions.
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Mastic chewing gum brand Mastika is attracting interest from distributors in the Middle East after bagging an innovation award at trade fair yummex, says Lebanese brand owner Master Chewing Gum & Candies.
Lebanese company Master Chewing Gum & Candies has introduced a gourmet gum brand in unconventional flavors such as mojito as it looks to seize on the Middle East’s changing gum market.
Euromonitor International has pinpointed several promising chocolate markets that may help manufacturers offset slowdowns in traditional emerging markets such as China and Brazil.
Smaller flexible plastic packs have topped the trend for 2016 as they give consumers a sense of control over snacking, portion sizes and awareness of sugar intake in food and soft drinks, says Euromonitor International.
UK confectioner Bon Bon Buddies to secure the contract to produce a range of themed confectionery for summer motion picture 'The Secret Life of Pets' under its ongoing partnership with Universal Studios.
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) has appointed its next full-time president, while Cargill has named a new global head of its cocoa and chocolate businesses.
At the crossroads of east and west, Turkey offers huge promise but given the current political and economic situation, there are also challenges. FoodNavigator spoke to both Turkish and global companies at Food Ingredients in Istanbul this month to get...
Africa will see a lot of investment in the confectionery industry where it will become ‘the Asia of the next century’ according to Andreas Leitze, sales director, Bosch.
Canada-based supplement firm Herbaland is launching a new Pure gummy product line, which it says is the first to use direct depositing rather than starch molds during processing.
Allboxes Direct launches bio based polymer packaging
Allboxes Direct, which works with Baked By Melissa, Milkbar, Farmigo, and Jacques Torres Chocolates, has launched a bio based polymer packaging to replace petroleum based polymers for the manufacture and production of plastic packaging.
Russian chocolate-maker Goldberg is planning to establish a factory in the UAE, as it targets the Middle East and North Africa as its first major export market.
PepsiCo, Mars, Mondelēz and Fonterra will focus their efforts on the Middle East at Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai next week (October 27-29) with two conferences entitled Next Generation Manufacturing and F&B Innovation.
Scottish premium chocolate startup iQ Chocolate will shortly start exporting its products to Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai after signing a series of distribution deals.
Secomak, which solves moisture related issues for customers including Coca-Cola, Nestlè, Danone and PepsiCo, is seeing a growing demand for its drying technology for the confectionery and dairy industry in the Middle East.
