Export boost hopes for UK as British lamb and cheese showcased in Dubai

British meat and dairy has returned to one of the largest's trade shows in the world
British meat and dairy has returned to one of the largest's trade shows in the world

British lamb and cheeses are being showcased this week at one of the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade shows in the hope of boosting exports.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has returned to Gulfood in Dubai, joining more than 5,000 exhibitors and around 97,000 attendees from 185 visiting countries.

Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the 23rd edition of the show runs until Thursday (22 February) and will showcase thousands of food and beverage products as well as providing a new business opportunities for exporters.

AHDB is exhibiting a range of lamb products in the Meat Pavilion as well as a selection of speciality cheeses in the Dairy Hall.

AHDB’s Halal Manager Awal Fuseini will also be speaking at a halal meat workshop organised jointly by Gulfood and EuroMeatNews.

Enhancing exports

The show has a reputation for giving exporters the opportunity to enhance current sales in the region and attract new business from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

AHDB’s Senior Export Manager for Livestock Jonathan Eckley said: “Gulfood is a major event which allows our lamb exporters the opportunity to build and enhance their relationship with importers.

“Although this is not a new market, it is an important show for high-quality lamb in the United Arab Emirates and beyond and it is vital that we continue to explore markets outside of Europe as we look to the future.”

At the event, AHDB Dairy will exhibit alongside The Fine Cheese Company, Prima Cheese, Dairy Partners UK, Daioni Organic, Calon Wen, Fayrefields and Llaeth Y llan/Village Dairy as well as showcasing Somerdale, Coombe Castle, Snowdonia Cheese, Wensleydale Creamery and Wyke Farms.

’Important event’

Lucy Randolph, AHDB Senior Export Manager for Dairy, said she is “thrilled” to be back at Gulfood.

“This is an important event for the British dairy industry and provides the perfect platform to promote dairy products to the Middle East and further afield,” she said.

It’s the second event in the 2018 trade development programme for the dairy export team, which has recently returned from the 43rd annual Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.

For the first time, they joined seven cheese producers from Britain at the three-day show which is now the US West Coast’s largest speciality food and beverage event.

More than 150 people attended the Guild Internationale Des Fromagers evening which was held during the event and showcased cheeses from Britain to influential importers from across the USA.