Riyadh to Host InFlavour 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Biggest F&B Event Today

The inaugural InFlavour 2023, Saudi Arabia’s biggest F&B event in terms of both gross square-metres and global prestige, will begin a three-day run at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Malham, tomorrow with organisers anticipating a major economic impact not only across the region, but also globally.

Organised by Tahaluf, and with the support of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture, the inaugural event promises a hive of activity with more than 40,000 attendees, 400 brands , 200 investors, and 200 speakers representing 143 countries all expected to turn out between October 29 and 31.

Packed with an array of interactive features, InFlavour 2023 will highlight Saudi Arabia’s rapidly transforming F&B sector, which is being fuelled by the emergence of mega tourism projects, the opening of a slew of new hospitality outlets, an upswing in entrepreneurial start-ups, an indigenous sector with a keen eye on fulfilling surging local demand, and a high potential, growing export sector.

“InFlavour 2023 will be a marker of things to come in one of the most vibrant and high-growth sectors in Saudi Arabia,” said Annabelle Mander, Senior Vice President of Tahaluf. “The event emphasises the importance of partnerships and collaboration in the industry to accelerate breakthroughs that are driven by a passion for food. According to the most recent figures, the food industry in Saudi is valued at US$14.16 billion and is expected to grow to US$34.04bn by 2030.”

The Official Spokesperson at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Mr. Saleh Bindakhil said that the Kingdom has taken several important steps to support all levels of food systems and to improve supply chains. This includes launching an expansion plan to invest SR 17 billion into the poultry production sector. Additionally, they have adopted an expansion plan to increase agricultural production in greenhouses with investments amounting to SR 4 billion until 2025. The Kingdom achieved sustainable development in the food sector by substantially boosting self-sufficiency rates for various agricultural products, with some surpassing 100%.

Mr. Saleh Bindakhil added that MEWA introduced four quality enhancement programs and labels for agricultural, fisheries, and livestock products in the Kingdom, represented by Organic, SAMAQ, Saudi Dates, and Saudi G.A.P. These programs and labels are designed to achieve several goals. They aim to increase the market value of the products, enable farmers and investors to market and export their products, and create more marketing opportunities in local and international markets. Additionally, they help establish a reliable brand that guarantees the quality of the product.

A line-up of culinary experts and master chefs will showcase their talents across 100-plus demonstrations and knowledge-sharing sessions such as Developing the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in AgriTech and Reassessing ESG and the Role of Investors in Promoting Food Security, Justice, and Sustainability. Each session has been cherry-picked to build awareness, prompt serious discussion and investment, and instigate change in food security.