Overview: ISM Middle East 2024 Trade Show

Date & Venue:

The ISM Middle East 2024 will be held from September 24-26, 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE.

About:

ISM Middle East is the region's largest and most influential trade fair dedicated to the sweets and snacks industry. The event serves as the MENA region’s primary platform for showcasing the latest innovations in confectionery, snacks, and bakery products, drawing participation from major global and regional industry players. Now in its 18th edition, the event has become a critical hub for buyers and suppliers to connect and explore new products, emerging trends, and business opportunities.

Industry Segments:

Confectionery, Chocolate products, Snacks, Biscuits, Cakes, Ice cream, Desserts, Baked goods, Vegan snacks, Organic products, Sugar-free snacks.

Market Size & Overview of the Industry Segment:

The MENA region’s sweets and snacks industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by evolving consumer preferences for healthier snacks, indulgent treats, and innovative product formats. The confectionery market in the MENA region is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% over the next few years, with demand for premium, sustainable, and healthier options pushing manufacturers toward innovation. This market expansion is fueled by a growing youth population, increased disposable income, and the region's diverse consumer base seeking traditional flavors alongside new global trends.

Attendance & Participation:

ISM Middle East 2024 is expected to attract over 30,000 professionals from across the globe, including wholesalers, retailers, distributors, importers, and foodservice operators. The event will feature more than 500 exhibitors from 50+ countries, showcasing a wide variety of products. Attendees will have the chance to engage in 2,000+ business meetings through the tailored networking programs.

Who Should Visit:

This trade show is a must-visit for a broad range of professionals within the food and beverages sector, including:

Retailers and supermarket chains
Distributors and wholesalers
Importers and exporters
Foodservice providers, such as hotels and restaurants
Chefs, chocolatiers, and pastry professionals
Food technologists and industry consultants
The event offers a unique opportunity for buyers to discover new product lines and for manufacturers to expand their market presence in the fast-growing MENA region.

Exhibitors Analysis: ISM Middle East 2024 Trade Show

Top 5 Major Exhibitors:

Bakewell Biscuits Pvt Ltd : Bakewell Biscuits Pvt Ltd is one of India's leading manufacturers and exporters of biscuits and confectionery products. With a strong focus on quality and innovation, the company offers a wide range of biscuits, cookies, and wafers to both domestic and international markets. Bakewell Biscuits Pvt Ltd is known for its state-of-the-art production facilities and its commitment to producing delicious, high-quality products that meet international standards.
Slim Dis Ticaret Ltd. Sti. : Slim Dis Ticaret Ltd. Sti. is a Turkish trading company engaged in the import and export of various consumer goods, with a particular focus on food products and beverages. The company serves domestic and international markets, providing high-quality goods that meet international standards. Slim Dis Ticaret Ltd. Sti. is known for its reliable logistics, competitive pricing, and customer-focused services.
Almarikh International General Trading Co. LLC : Almarikh International General Trading Co. LLC was founded in Syria in 1995 and later expanded its presence to the UAE in 2011. The company specializes in the production and distribution of stationery, educational items, and office supplies, catering to markets across the Middle East including the UAE, KSA, Jordan, and beyond. With over two decades of experience, Almarikh is committed to quality and innovation, regularly participating in regional events.
Nyra Chocolates Private Limited : Nyra Chocolates Private Limited, established in 2017, is a premium confectionery manufacturer based in Indore, India. Known for producing high-quality chocolates, toffees, and candies, Nyra Chocolates is committed to delivering unique offerings that combine rich taste with affordability. The company is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery sourced from Germany and China, enabling efficient production. Nyra caters to both national and international markets, focusing on customization and innovation in its product lines.
Vigos Chocolate : Established in Gaziantep, Turkey, Vigos Chocolate has over 30 years of experience in the chocolate manufacturing industry. The company exports its products to 37 countries and specializes in high-quality compound chocolates, including coconut bars, hazelnut cream, and chocolate spreads. Vigos uses advanced technology to meet the demands of diverse markets around the world.

Participating Countries:

Total participating countries: 50+
Top 5 countries by participation and their percentage of total exhibitors:

Türkiye (14%)
China (10%)
United Arab Emirates (8%)
Italy (7%)
Poland (6%).

Major Types of Companies:

Total company types: 10+
Top 5 company types by percentage of exhibitors:

Food Manufacturing (63%)
Exporters (47%)
Food Processing (19%)
Manufacturing (14%)
Distributors (6%).

Major Product Categories:

Total product categories: 10+
Top 5 categories by percentage of exhibitors:

Confectionery (70%)
Bakery Products (24%)
Snack Foods (23%)
Beverages (8%)
Biscuits (4%).

Major Product Items:

Total unique product items: 1,349
Top 15 product items (based on count):
Biscuits, Chocolates, Wafers, Candies, Lollipops, Chocolate Bars, Cookies, Cakes, Toffees, Hard Candies, Marshmallows, Turkish Delights, Nougat, Gummy Candies, Fruit Jellies.

Interesting Insights: ISM Middle East 2024 Trade Show

Exhibiting Countries of Top 5 Company Types

Food Manufacturing - United Arab Emirates, India, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Belgium, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Tunisia, Greece, South Africa, Brazil, UK, Canada, Japan, Argentina, Peru
Exporters - United Arab Emirates, India, Bahrain, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Tunisia, South Africa, Netherlands, USA, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Czech Republic, Peru
Food Processing - United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, Poland, Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Tunisia, USA, Lebanon, Germany, Greece, South Africa, France, Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Peru, Australia, Philippines, Czech Republic, Morocco
Manufacturing - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, Germany, Tunisia, France, South Africa, Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru
Distributors - United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Poland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Spain, France, South Africa, Peru, Brazil, Argentina

Exhibiting Countries of Top 5 Product Categories

Confectionery - United Arab Emirates, India, Bahrain, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belgium, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Tunisia, Greece, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, Argentina, Peru
Bakery Products - United Arab Emirates, India, Bahrain, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Tunisia, Argentina, Greece, Spain, Peru, Oman, Australia
Snack Foods - United Arab Emirates, India, Bahrain, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Tunisia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Philippines, Indonesia, Morocco, Peru
Beverages - United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Poland, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Tunisia, Brazil, USA, France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Peru, Oman, Malaysia, Argentina, Australia
Biscuits - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, France, Netherlands, Spain, Peru, Lebanon

Exhibiting Countries of Top 10 Products

Biscuits - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, France, Netherlands, Spain, Peru, Lebanon
Chocolates - United Arab Emirates, India, Bahrain, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Tunisia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Philippines, Japan, Morocco, Australia, Peru
Wafers - United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Poland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Belgium, Netherlands, Egypt, South Africa, USA, Philippines, Peru
Candies - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Germany, Tunisia, South Africa, Spain, Czech Republic, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Peru, Oman
Lollipops - United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Poland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Belgium, Netherlands, Egypt, South Africa, USA, Peru
Chocolate Bars - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, South Africa, Brazil, Philippines, Japan, Argentina, Peru, Morocco
Cookies - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Philippines, South Africa, Morocco
Cakes - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Tunisia, South Africa, Peru
Toffees - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Philippines, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Peru
Hard Candies - United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, USA, Jordan, Lebanon, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Tunisia, South Africa, Philippines, Peru, Argentina, Australia, Morocco

Top 5 Exhibiting Countries and Their Product Details

Türkiye
Food Manufacturing, Exporters, Distributors
Confectionery, Snack Foods, Bakery Products
Biscuits, Wafers, Chocolate Bars, Turkish Delights, Candies
China
Food Manufacturing, Exporters, Food Processing
Confectionery, Snack Foods, Bakery Products, Fruits
Lollipops, Gummy Candy, Cookies, Biscuits
United Arab Emirates
Food Manufacturing, Exporters, Distributors
Confectionery, Snack Foods, Bakery Products, Beverages
Chocolates, Biscuits, Marshmallows, Baklava
Italy
Food Manufacturing, Exporters, Food Processing
Confectionery, Bakery Products, Organic Products, Snack Foods
Panettone, Cakes, Pistachio Pesto, Sicilian Pastries, Nougat
Poland
Food Manufacturing, Exporters, Distributors
Confectionery, Bakery Products, Snack Foods
Biscuits, Wafers, Chocolates, Cookies, Chocolate Bars

Key Highlights: ISM Middle East 2024 Trade Show

Key Industry Segments

ISM Middle East 2024 covers a broad range of industry segments, with a special focus on the following:

Confectionery: The largest segment represented at ISM Middle East, including chocolates, candies, lollipops, toffees, and hard candies. Global and regional companies focus on showcasing new flavors, healthier alternatives, and sustainable products.
Bakery Products: This segment includes biscuits, cakes, cookies, and wafers. There is a strong emphasis on innovative baked goods, including festive products, gluten-free options, and artisanal specialties from around the world.
Snack Foods: Featuring both savory and sweet options, this segment is rapidly expanding. Products include crisps, snack bars, and healthier snack options like dried fruits and nut mixes.
Beverages: While a smaller category compared to snacks and confectionery, beverages like soft drinks, energy drinks, and health-focused beverages are gaining ground. Products often complement snack food offerings.
Organic and Free-from Products: Growing consumer demand for organic, vegan, and allergen-free products is driving innovation. Many exhibitors showcase sugar-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan confectionery and snack options.

Market Trends

ISM Middle East 2024 highlights several key trends shaping the confectionery and snacks industry:

Health-Conscious Snacking: There is a growing demand for snacks that offer both indulgence and health benefits. This trend is driving innovation in sugar-free, organic, and low-fat products. Products fortified with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics are becoming popular as consumers look for snacks that provide more than just taste.
Sustainability: Eco-consciousness is at the forefront of consumer preferences. Brands are focusing on sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, and reducing their environmental footprint. This includes packaging innovations such as compostable wrappers and recycled materials.
Traditional Meets Modern: While consumers are eager to try new and exotic flavors, there is a resurgence in demand for traditional products with modern twists. This is particularly true for regions like MENA, where classic sweets like Turkish delights, nougats, and baklava are being reimagined for a global audience.
Plant-Based and Vegan Products: With a rising interest in plant-based diets, vegan confectionery and snacks are a key growth area. Products that cater to dairy-free, lactose-free, and vegan consumers are becoming staples at major trade shows like ISM.
Festive and Seasonal Products: Seasonal and festive products continue to be a major driver of innovation. The Festive Showcase at ISM Middle East spotlights these limited-time offerings, which are increasingly popular as gifts and during special occasions.

Conclusion

ISM Middle East 2024 stands out as the ultimate platform for the sweets and snacks industry in the MENA region. With its vast array of exhibitors, innovative product categories, and emerging market trends, the trade show offers unmatched opportunities for businesses to connect, innovate, and grow. The focus on health-conscious, sustainable, and festive products reflects the evolving demands of consumers, making this event a pivotal one for both established players and new entrants.

ISM Middle East, 2024: Exhibitors