HRH opens Food & Hospitality Expo

12th January 2010, Manama: His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain inaugurated the second annual Food & Hospitality Expo which was held under his patronage at  Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC) yesterday.

Organized by Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA), the Expo opened with 84 exhibitors, more than double the number of its exhibitors at the inaugural exhibition last year.

H.E. Dr Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA), said, “We are, once again, honoured by the presence of HRH The Prime Minister to open our second annual Food and Hospitality Expo which highlights an important industry for the Region and one in which Bahrain excels.   It is a testament to the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain that this industry continues to develop and expand its horizons, a fact shown by the growth of this event to more than double in size in only its second year.     We look forward further growth the years to come.” 

Food & Hospitality Expo 2010 is part of the events portfolio of BECA and features a range of products and services related to all aspects catering, kitchen equipment, food processing technology and packaging. In addition, live demonstrations of elegant chocolate showpieces and cake decorating, sushi cooking, fruit and vegetable carving techniques are being held by pastry chefs and kitchen artists from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Bahrain and Spa, Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel, Gulf Hotel, The Regency Inter.Continental Hotel and Nadia Sweets.

Having been impressed with the inaugural event, Lulu Hypermarket is this year’s biggest exhibitor and has also come on board this year as a sponsor and will be displaying a number of premium brands at the Expo.

According to participants from Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Thailand and the United Kingdom, Food & Hospitality Expo is Bahrain’s most important one-stop shopping platform that brings together an entire community of importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and large-scale buyers including hotels and restaurants.

British, Eastern European & Thai participation
First-time exhibitors include UK-based Steelite International, a leading manufacturer of innovative and inspirational tableware for the hospitality; the Embassy of Thailand which will showcase the best that Thailand has to offer with a National Pavilion; ALIMENTA NATUR, a.s. from the Slovak Republic and Prometheus Trade Company Ltd., from the Czech Republic.

Babasons, Bahrain Modern Mills, Chinese Centre for Kitchen Equipment Co., The Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel, Gulf Hotel, Moevenpick Hotel, Nestle Bahrain , Regency Inter.Continental Hotel, Noor Al Bahrain and Tariq Pastries will showcase the latest innovations in the industry. (Continued on Page 2)

In addition, BECA and Tamkeen are co-financing a showcase for Bahraini food industry Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with Tamkeen’s pavilion being organised in co-operation with the Bahrain Business Women’s Society.

Food & Hospitality Expo 2010 receives extensive support from the Ministry of Industry & Commerce and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry with sponsorship from Bahrain Airport Services, TUV Middle East (Member of TUV NORD Group), a German Inspection, Certification & Training Body, and Coca-Cola with Gulf Air as the Official Carrier. 

The Expo, which was opened by His Royal Highness The Prime Minister, will be open in Hall 2 of BIECC until 14th January 2010 from 10 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 9 pm. Further information about the Food and Hospitality Expo 2010 can be obtained from Mohammed Yousif – Head of Sales & Events, for BECA on tel. 17558804, or visit the website at www.foodexpbh.com Admission is free to registered business visitors.