Saudi Arabia's pre-packaged food segment continues to maintain robust growth, achieving a strong 50 percent share in the country's food market, which has been driven primarily by the country's youth-dominated population. Up to 70 percent of Saudi nationals are in the 13 to 21 age bracket and are exhibiting a remarkable preference for fastfood and pre-packed food items from both local and international chains. The sustained growth of the pre-packed market segment and its rapid development has prompted international companies to enter into licensing agreements with Saudi-based manufacturers to produce various international food brands, subsequently creating new business and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Capitalizing on the emerging market opportunities, Saudi Food Pack 2010 - The International Exhibition for Food Processing and Packaging, will gather international and local food manufacturing companies, dealers, agents and distributors along with key policy makers and high-ranking government officials for the region's largest business-to-business event for the pre-packaged food segment. Saudi Food Pack has become a favored platform to showcase the latest in food processing and packaging technologies and will give exhibitors the advantage of being able to network with top decision makers in Saudi Arabia's pre-packaged food segment. Organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company, Saudi Food Pack 2010 will run on Oct. 4-7 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre, and will be held concurrently with Saudi Agriculture 2010 - the 29th International Agriculture, Water & Agri-Industry Show; and Saudi Agro-Food 2010 - the 17th International Tradeshow for Food Products. Khalid Daou, project manager of Saudi Food Pack at Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said: “Saudi Arabia's youth-dominated population has become a major driver for the country's pre-packaged food segment.” “The younger generation's preference for fastfood has led to the continuous growth of the segment,” he added. Aside from the Kingdom's young population, other factors like the increasing number of foreign pilgrims – which has reached around five million annually, the growing number of women joining the Saudi workforce, and the aggressive marketing campaigns of food companies also play a key role in fuelling the demand for pre-packaged food. Saudi Food Pack 2010 aims to serve as the perfect venue for international food companies and local manufacturing groups to meet and discuss potential partnership agreements that can further bolster the growth of the pre-packaged food segment, the organizer said.
