The French Pavilion will bring together 9 businesses, to permit international cuisine and restaurant services professionals to discover French products and know-how. Foie gras, traditionally-prepared breads, chocolates and sweets, biscuits, vanilla, prunes, truffle,... so many French products and destinations to experience and enjoy!
The success of the previous edition of The Speciality Food Festival encourages France to renew its participation in this show. The 9 exhibitors, coming from Paris and different regions of France (Provence, Burgundy, Basque country, Corsica…), will not only showcase a profusion of products but will also offer to the visitors an opportunity to taste and enjoy the French products in many healthy and flavorful ways. The exhibitors’ products will be used to cook both French and local recipes, demonstrating how they can be easily prepared and revealing how perfectly suited they are for international cuisine in the Chef’s corner.
UBIFRANCE aims at supporting French companies, especially small and medium ones, to come and find distributors in the UAE and the Middle East in general. The two main markets in the region for French products are KSA and the UAE, who together represent 50% of this turnover. French food exports to the Middle East greatly benefit from both their excellent reputation as well as from the increase of global consumption in the region where a taste for western-style products is growing and where the restaurant and fine-dining sector is thriving.
The agrifood industry is huge asset of the French economy, making France one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of food and beverages. Agriculture and food industries in France account for about 13% of the value-added of French industry as a whole. This industry employs 557,000 and generates a value-added of €31.7 billion. The agrifood sector in France is the leading industrial sector with a €148bn turnover. It accounts for 1.7% of French GDP and 7.1% of total French exports.
In November 2010, the French "repas gastronomique" (gourmet meal) was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. According to the United Nation’s cultural organization, French meals play an important social role and are part of the French identity. Thus, France has launched this year a promotional campaign about food and gastronomy in some key countries around the world, including the U.A.E.
The French exhibitors are:
CASTAING, foie gras, confits, magrets, sauces, truffles juice from the Landes, www.castaing-foiegras.com
CHOCOLATERIE DE PUYRICARD, chocolate and calissons maker from Provence, www.puyricard.fr
GOURMET AND CO, prunes and gourmet products made from prunes from Corsica, www.gourmetandco.fr
KREEK’S, family-run business established in Vendée, specialized in dried fruits and snacks, www.kreeks.fr Their products are imported in the UAE by RUNGIS FOOD STUFF, www.emiratesfinefoods.com
LOUISE BON, lentils, “sablés” and other fine food products made in the Champagne region, www.louisebon.com
PAINS & TRADITION, family of millers and bakers (father and son since 1732) from Lorraine, www.pains-tradition.com
MAISON BOISSIER, confectioner and chocolate maker established in 1827, from Paris, www.maisonboissier.com
RELAIS GOURMET, Halal certified foie gras and terrines from Basque country, www.relaisgourmet.com
VANILLE DE TAHITI, vanilla from French Polynesia, www.vanilledetahiti.pf
The latest edition of The Speciality Food Festival, in 2010, hosted 1,931 visitors from 39 countries (80% UAE, 20% international audience).
Please find attached the presentation of the French Exhibitors.