Oman's new taxes, Malaysia and Brunei's White Rabbit candy non-halal debate, Taiwan's tightened regulations for egg imports and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.
Oman is joining other GCC states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar in implementing a selective tax on energy drinks, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco.
The Oman government’s flagship dairy project, Mazoon Dairy, is expected to begin production by next month as part of the stat’s drive to strengthen its food security.
Plant-based meat substitutes, such as seitan, tempeh, and tofu are gaining traction across the UAE, along with other traditional festive food, including dates, grains, pulses, and nuts.
The Abu Dhabi Food and Safety Authority (ADFSA) has warned that misinformation related to food safety on the social media platforms is likely to spike during the Ramadan period.
A dairy and beverage factory owned by Al Alamia was ordered to shut down temporarily after officials said the company repeatedly ignored warnings about its food safety lapses.
Israeli cellular meat start-up Aleph Farms has secured a fresh injection of capital that will enable it to bring production of “slaughter free” cultured meat to commercial scale.
The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has teamed up with a coalition formed by NGOs, local and global food firms, including MNCs such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, PepsiCo, P&G, and Unilever in combating local plastic and packaging...
Qatar’s largest dairy products manufacturer Baldana has entered the fruit juice market, in line with the country’s goal of attaining self-sufficiency in food production.
Middle East supermarket mega chain Choithrams has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Future Consumer Limited (FCL) to market popular Indian snacks in the UAE for the first time.
UAE-based food firm Hunter Foods is aiming to push forward its concept of applying hospitality-style thinking to its products and management, to enhance promotion of its better-for-you product messaging.
Farmchimp General Trading, a Dubai-based e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar retailer, is seeking to bring “source traceable” products directly from farmers to end-consumers in the Middle East., by using QR codes to provide traceability information.
About 90% of UAE infants have been introduced to complementary foods such as milk formula, juices and staples by the time they are five or six months old, according to a new study.
The Middle East and North African (MENA) region (excluding sub-saharan Africa) has been predicted to lead the global health and wellness packaged food market growth over the next five years, according to an international study.
Experts have identified convenience, experience and personalisation as the key trends that food businesses need to pay attention to in order to retain customer loyalty amidst the rapid evolution of the Middle Eastern F&B market.
UAE specialist free-from brand Freakin' Healthy is on a mission to tackle the four major obstacles currently challenging the healthy snacks industry, said its founder and CEO.
UAE mineral water market leader Agthia has stepped up its sustainability efforts with the announcement of new long-term goals and partnerships targeted at reducing negative impacts on the environment.
Be interesting, be passionate and be unique. These are among the top tips for start-ups when seeking to work with MNCs, according to a panel of top food and beverage industry leaders.
The Gulfood Innovation Awards 2019 saw each of 12 companies go home with one of the much sought-after awards in the bag. We caught up with all the winners after the show to find out more about their secrets to success.
Award-winning United Arab Emirates (UAE) food firm Global Food Industries (GFI) says the quality of its innovation, health focus and plant-based options will help drive its expansion outside of the Middle East.
Health and wellness and affordability are the key focus trends that consumers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region are demanding, according to an executive at NZMP.
Turkey’s first plant-based specialist FOMILK has big plans to expand in the Middle East and beyond, driven by its non-dairy product range that it believes meets a whole host of health and wellness trends.
The brains behind OLIO's successful Food Waste Heroes programme - where volunteers collect surplus food from local businesses and share it with fellow members in their local communities – has given his top tips on how food and beverage start-ups...
The Gulfood Innovation Awards 2019 saw each of 12 companies go home with one of the much sought-after awards in the bag. We caught up with all the winners after the show to find out more about their secrets to success.
Blockchain and artificial intelligence are set to play ever more significant roles in the food industry, including in food security and diversification, said a panel of industry and technology experts.
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.
Middle Eastern mineral water giant Agthia Group is focusing on functional benefits with its latest product launches, with intentions to expand further into the APAC market.
A panel of experts have identified experience and social media as key factors to capturing the youth and women consumer segments in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian consumers are becoming increasingly savvy when seeking out food and beverage bargains, and are also demanding new products with a stronger health focus.
The UAE has introduced a new resolution which prohibits the import and re-export of shark meat, with trade now only permitted if the freight forwarder presents the required shipping documents.
The UAE has filed a complaint against Qatar at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), claiming that the latter’s ban against UAE products, including food items, was inconsistent with international laws.
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched the ‘Fat, Sugar and Salt reduction Initiative in Qatar” to cut such content in food and beverages – both locally manufactured goods and those imported.
Fears are mounting that a big chunk of India’s food exports would be hit after suggestions emerged that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would halt billions of dollars of imports because of issues surrounding quality.
Last week, the UAE Ministry of Education published a list of food items that are no longer allowed for sale in schools, including chocolate, soft drinks and fries.
UAE-based importer Truebell is offering at least seven new products to the country this year – including tea from the UK and probiotic beverages from Japan.
The UAE Cabinet has implemented a blanket ban on the advertising of infant formula and other infant nutrition products, including follow-up formula and complementary foods.
Gaya Gold has partnered with Ardagh Group to launch a redesigned ice coffee packaging in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) with plans to take it to other Middle Eastern markets.
We look at the top 10 Middle East stories of 2018, featuring developments in major food brands, to the use of blockchain technology, and regulatory changes.
