PH Food and Beverage Industry in the UAE to Innovate Filipino Food to Meet Rising Demand
Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Hjayceelyn M. Quintana poses for a group photo with representatives of global food chain brands, restaurants, and other food and beverage companies in the UAE at FilFood 2019. (Abu Dhabi photo)
ABU DHABI 04 March 2019 – FilFood 2019, the first Filipino Food Industry Conference in Abu Dhabi, was successfully held on 12 February 2019 at Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals and residents will soon enjoy more nutritious, and halal-certified Philippine produce and ingredients that go into Filipino food served by a number Filipino restaurants and food and beverage outlets in the country.
These include global food chain brands, Jollibee (Golden Bee Foods), Chowking (Resolute Hospitality), Chowking (Resolute Hospitality), Max’s Restaurant (Landmark Group), Pancake House (Tablez), Terriyaki Boy & Sizzlin’ Steak (Kasamar), Teatro (Park Rotana), and Papa John’s Pizza (Mam Foods).
Established Filipino restaurants in the UAE will also join the initiative to incorporate Philippine-made products in their offerings.
Among these restaurants are Off-the-Hook, Oriental Korner, Hooked, Hot Palayok, Al Pinoy Golden, Baliwag, Panaderia Bakery, Wooden Spoon, Resto Pinoy, Cups & Cones, Mikee’s, Juancho’s, JR’s Restaurant, Dabarkads, and Kusina, and industry partners, Truebell Marketing, Magnolia Ice Cream, San Miguel Purefoods, Kayumanggi Foods, Nas Accountants & Auditors, and Positive Property Management.
In her keynote speech Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana said, “Food is a cultural experience. Our food does not only have to appeal to the palate but first and foremost to the eyes, while being consistent in taste and level of expectation.”
“In the Year of Tolerance celebrated in the whole country, the leaders of the UAE have expressed their encouragement for the Filipino community in the country to actively showcase what make us vibrant – our talent, our food, our culture. Our time is now,” Ambassador Quintana underscored.
FilFood 2019 Executive Director Jose Ma. Jerome B. Tuano expressed the vision of wide acceptance of Filipino food including Philippine produce and ingredients by locals and multi-cultural consumers in the UAE.
“We have to accelerate our innovation of food and recipes as well as competitively promote the consumption of nutritious and value-added, halal-certified Filipino food menus,” Mr. Tuano stressed.
FilFood 2019 aims to create awareness among industry players in the UAE and the region on product innovations, sustainability, and inclusive growth of the “Filipino Food’ brand.
The conference provided sessions for exchange of views on industry issues as well as a platform for the presentation of products and services, and collaboration among food and beverages industry players. END
For more information, visit www.abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph or www.facebook.com/PHinUAE/.
Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Hjayceelyn M. Quintana meets Philippine food and beverages industry partners at FilFood 2019. (Abu Dhabi photo)