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Tea, coffee to lead growth in UAE's F&B industry

The tea and coffee segment would be a key driver of growth in the UAE's food and beverage (F&B) industry in the coming years, experts at the Dubai International Coffee & Tea Festival 2018 said.
The three-day event concluded on Friday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event featured coffee, tea and café products, as well as the latest equipment and services. It was the only dedicated event in the Middle East that gave interested parties access to a wide range of suppliers, products and certified training programmes.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Anselm Godinho, managing director of International Conferences and Exhibitions, and organiser of the event, said that there is a steady growth in the UAE's tea and coffee industry. "Dubai has always been a reputed hub for tea; more so when it comes to re-exports than consumption. We have seen an increase in the consumption of both tea and coffee in the UAE and the region."
Highlighting the growth in the coffee industry in the UAE, he said: "We are seeing more of a shift towards green beans, which is indicative of the trend in the market right now. The roasting industry in the region is also growing and demand for specialty coffee is also on the rise. There are several reasons for this, but the main reason is that consumers have more of an awareness about what specialty coffee is and they are interested in the experience that it offers. Commercial coffee has set the pace for growth in the industry, but now consumers are interested in the more refined sensory experience of specialty coffee."
Godinho noted that this shift in preferences was apparent given the rise in the number of specialty coffee and tea cafes in the UAE. This, he said, is good news for customers, as they now have more choice, and the coffee culture itself will continue to grow as more consumers get educated on the art of making specialty coffee.
"Specialty coffee is more than just a name: you have to understand that this type of coffee only comes from small farms; the size of the harvest is small; there is a certain way to roast the beans; and there is a certain way to brew it - it is really an art."
Drew Dennehy, coffee development and sustainability manager at London Dairy Cafe, also spoke about consumers and their love for coffee in the UAE. The company has plans to open at six cafes at various locations over the next six months.
"There is a growing interest and trend towards specialty coffee in the UAE, and we decided to build upon our parlour concept to cater to this. Initially, we started with small grab and go items and then moved on from there. Right now, we have a great team behind us, and we are investing heavily in getting the right equipment, and training the right people, to expand on our cafe concept. We want to ensure that we set ourselves apart with great products and great service," he said.
-        rohma@khaleejtimes.com