Middle East Focus: Halal food production, Insta nutrition advice +more!
Halal food production, Instagram nutrition advice and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
Middle East
UAE to link beverage prices to sugar levels: What does industry need to do?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will implement a tiered excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) from January 2026
Fermented fungi firm targets taste gap in plant-based, hybrid proteins
Aussie-based Nourish Ingredients focuses on global rollout for plant-based and hybrid protein categories after FEMA GRAS approval
South Korea targets Saudi Arabia for K-food export growth
South Korea is eyeing Saudi Arabia as a key food exports market, doubling down on inter-government collaborations and local regulatory deep dives
Middle East rises in global halal food manufacturing race
As demand for halal food grows, the Middle East is emerging as a strong competitor to South East Asia in global halal manufacturing
Middle East Focus: Saudi Arabia entry, Turkey food fraud risks and more
Saudi Arabia entry, Turkey food fraud risks and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
Experts warn against young adult reliance on Instagram for nutrition advice: UAE study
A new study has revealed that nearly two-thirds of young adults in the UAE turn to social media for nutrition advice, with Instagram topping the list.
Agthia profits fall amid weak snack and protein demand
The firm has posted a second straight quarterly profit drop as snack and protein demand weakens, highlighting geopolitical and supply challenges in the region
Bigger local chickens at heart of Tanmiah-McDonald’s Saudi deal
Tanmiah and McDonald’s look to improve Saudi Arabia poultry supply chains with a focus on bigger chickens and local sourcing
How Brooklyn Creamery mastered cold-chain in hot markets
Cold-chain innovation by Brooklyn Creamery has powered frozen dessert delivery in challenging markets such as India and UAE
How Kerry’s salt and sugar reduction tech is quietly driving its bottom line
As brands face mounting pressure to cut sodium and sugar without compromising taste, reformulation is no longer a niche concern – it’s driving real commercial gains. Kerry’s behind-the-scenes tech is helping reshape everyday foods and quietly lifting margins
中東フォーカス：English Tea Shop、飲料トレンド、コーヒー
ここでは、English Tea Shop、飲料トレンド、コーヒーなどを特集しています。
Middle East Focus: English Tea Shop, beverage trends, coffee and more
English Tea Shop, beverage trends, coffee and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
4 things food brands must know to enter Saudi Arabia
Explore the top four insights food brands need to tap into Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving F&B market, driven by rising demand and shifting consumer trends
Food fraud in Turkey reveals critical risks
Food fraud in Turkey is widespread and growing more sophisticated, with serious consequences for public health and trust in the supply chain
Uncle Saba’s Poppadoms: Building a global better-for-you snack brand
Uncle Saba’s Poppadoms has grown from its traditional roots to become a global snack brand sold in 25 countries - this is its story
Brazil nuts: Boosting health, forests, and livelihoods
Brazil nuts offer more than nutrition – they also protect rainforests and support local communities
Gut health market to hit $270bn by 2034 as trend dominates F&B
Gut health market shows no signs of slowing as consumer interest proves unstoppable
Middle East Focus: Kamlah Gold tea, UAE AI dark horse and more
Kamlah Gold tea, UAE AI dark horse and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
Strong flavours brew growth as English Tea Shop enters Middle East
Strong flavours drive English Tea Shop’s Middle East debut as it looks to capture premium tea demand
ミドル イースト フォーカス：「メイド・イン・UAE」の需要、パーム油のニーズ、 スナック菓子
「メイド・イン・UAE」の需要、パーム油のニーズ、インド製スナック菓子などを特集 しています。
Dubai start-up Greener Herd launches Arabic-language app for digital tools in livestock
Greener Herd, billed as the first Arabic-language livestock management platform designed for producers in the Middle East, has officially launched on the Google Play Store and App Store
Coffee mixology, functional brews and robot baristas: Top trends from the world’s most exciting coffee markets
Global coffee markets such as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East hold huge opportunities for growth: touring these markets reveals some of the hottest future coffee trends
Nestlé’s big bet on ‘super premium’ baby formula
The food giant hopes its new infant formula will help power growth
Rethinking plant-based: Consumers want natural, minimally processed foods, says Dipsy Dips
Singapore-based hummus brand Dipsy Dips says a focus on the traditions of plant-based eating can overcome growing consumer unease with the category.
Could black tea be the answer to reducing breast cancer risk for Middle Eastern women?
Daily consumption of black tea is associated with reducing the risk of breast cancer in the Middle East, according to a large-scale review
Middle East Focus: ‘Made in UAE’ demand, palm oil needs, snacks and more
‘Made in UAE’ demand, palm oil needs, Indian-made snacks and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus
Shake Your Plants seeks to fill dehydration and nutrient gaps in UAE with functional beverages
Functional beverage brand Shake Your Plants (SYP) aims to address dehydration and nutrient deficiency issues among the UAE population, while actively seeking global expansion.
Middle East Focus: Agthia plans, BIKA AMEA kids focus, dried fruits + more!
Agthia plans, BIKA AMEA kids focus, dried fruits and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus.
GULFOOD
iPRO strengthens footprint in Saudi, eyes bigger functional hydration opportunities in ME
Functional hydration brand iPRO is solidifying its presence in Saudi Arabia through a strategic partnership while looking to actively expand across the Middle East and Asia.
Food fraud and recalls – industry stresses are ramping up
The food and drink industry is facing some of its biggest threats
The ‘world’s first’ date-based soft drink comes to the UK
The ‘world’s first’ date-based soft drink is making its way from Saudi Arabia to British shores, with the beverage launching in UK stores from May.
GULFOOD
Swiss firm eyes market opportunities for dried fruit snacks in Middle East
Switzerland-headquartered yourharvest aims to tap into opportunities for the dried fruit snacks category in the Middle East through its premium product offerings.
Baladna taps high protein dairy, Algerian collaboration for growth after Malaysia venture falls through
Qatari dairy giant Baladna is looking to increase its focus on its high-protein products and extend collaboration with the Algerian government, after a previous joint venture in Malaysia came to an end.
FNA Deep Dive: Staple Foods
Reformulation, health concerns lead innovation in key APAC staples - In-depth analysis
Major APAC staple food categories from rice to vegetable oil are seeing innovation efforts being driven by consumer demands for reformulation, healthier substitutions, and sustainability concerns.
UAE’s Meliha launches packaged laban to meet growing demand for organic dairy products
Sharjah Agriculture and Livestock Production (Ektifa)’s dairy brand Meliha has expanded its line-up to include a laban beverage, in response to rising demand for organic products in the UAE.
Middle East Focus: 2024’s Top 10 most-read Middle East food and beverage stories
Read our top 10 most-viewed Middle East food and beverage stories from 2024, featuring the viral Dubai chocolate fever trend, GMG frozen foods brand Farm Fresh, Mondelez on key trends in the AMEA region and more.
‘Perfect playground’: Kerry to ramp up presence in ME amid start-up boom, evolving consumer demands
Kerry is looking to boost its R&D and production capabilities in the Middle East amid a boom in new businesses and evolving consumer demands.
House of Pops eyes bigger B2B opportunities on the back of partnership with Emirates Bustanica
Dubai-based frozen desserts brand House of Pops has partnered with Emirates Bustanica to launch two new product ranges, a move that it believes would bring forth greater B2B opportunities.
Okra could help manage cardiometabolic symptoms – meta-analysis
Okra consumption significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels.
High sarcopenia prevalence in Iran calls for targeted nutritional interventions – review
The prevalence of sarcopenia is notably high in Iran, particularly among older individuals and men, emphasising the need for targeted nutritional interventions to reduce sarcopenia risk among the population.
The Yoghurt Shop eyes North America for global expansion after Saudi launch
Australian premium yoghurt brand The Yoghurt Shop will soon enter North America as the next step of its global expansion, on the back of encouraging responses for its recent Middle East debut.
Almarai partners Google Cloud to boost operational efficiency, speed up innovation and elevate customer experience
Saudi Arabian F&B major Almarai is partnering with Google Cloud to accelerate its digital transformation initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive innovation and growth, and elevate customer experience in an increasingly competitive market.
Middle East alt protein sector set for ‘rapid growth’ fuelled by consumer demand
The growing interest in plant-based meat and dairy alternatives in the Middle East, attributed to increasing health awareness and product options, is expected to propel growth of the alternative protein sector over the next few years.
Middle East Focus: Gautam, Vlinder Chocolate, Haldin, Linafsi
This round-up features companies that are making inroads into the Middle East market, including Gautam rice, Thailand’s 3 Seasons Holding and Indonesia’s Haldin, as well as brands from the region that are rapidly expanding.
High dietary intake of magnesium and fibre mitigates risk of metabolic syndrome among Kuwaiti women – study
A study has found that increased dietary intake of magnesium and fibre is associated with reduced likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Kuwaiti women, underscoring the need to encourage diets rich in these nutrients.
Freeze-dried superfoods: Thai manufacturer eyes Dubai as launchpad for Middle East expansion
Thailand-based 3 Seasons Holding is gearing up to expand its operations into the Middle East, with plans to enter the region through Dubai within the next two years.
Saudi Arabia’s Vlinder Chocolate enters South Korea amid relentless ‘Dubai chocolate’ craze
Saudi Arabia’s Vlinder Chocolate recently debuted its “Dubai chocolate-style” products in South Korea, on the back of the viral food trend that has taken the market by storm over the past year.
Gautam eyes top rice importer spot in Middle East, anticipates Saudi to be biggest growth driver
Gautam General Trading (GGT) aims to build on its success in the UAE and Oman to expand in Saudi Arabia, which it believes will be a key market to drive growth and help it claim top spot among rice importers in the region.
Saudi coffee trends: Local products faring well, caffeine intake levels within recommended limit despite rising popularity
A study on coffee consumption patterns in Saudi Arabia has found that Saudi coffee is more widely consumed than Turkish coffee among the local population, and that caffeine intake levels remain within the daily recommended limit despite the category’s boom.