Food for Thought: The Middle East

On a current swing through the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, I am witnessing strong growth in the retail and foodservice channels in the food & beverage industry. Large retailers are interested in listing unique, innovative products from the USA, and fast-food chains, bakeries and coffee shop chains are expanding aggressively and competing for Class A retail locations. The UAE growth is anticipated to exceed 3.3% this year and has emerged stronger after the real-estate boom and subsequent recession. The trade partners that I have met with thus far are all confident in their earning potential and expect continued rapid growth in the region.