Hospitality
Designing the Next Generation of Functional, Future-Ready Foods
Exclusive interview with İnanç Işık, General Manager – Retail, Kerry Middle East
You’ve spoken about the balance between taste, functionality, and sustainability. What technological advances are helping Kerry achieve sustainable innovation without compromising flavour or performance?
At Kerry, sustainability and taste are inseparable. Our Tastesense™ portfolio enables up to 50% sugar and salt reduction while preserving flavour integrity. We combine biotechnology, fermentation, and enzymology to extend shelf life and reduce food waste, supporting circular economy goals. Proprietary tools like Kerry NutriGuide model nutritional impact during reformulation, ensuring healthier profiles without trade-offs. These innovations are embedded in our Smart Taste™ platform, which addresses cost, supply, and regulatory pressures while maintaining indulgent taste. For example, our Cocoa Booster technology allows up to 20% cocoa reduction, mitigating volatility and lowering carbon footprint without compromising sensory experience.
Ingredient volatility — such as fluctuating cocoa and sugar prices — remains a major industry challenge. How is Kerry using R&D and data-led formulation to help manufacturers manage supply and cost risks?
Cocoa prices have surged by over 300% in the past year, and sugar markets remain highly volatile due to global supply constraints and regulatory pressures. Kerry addresses these challenges through a combination of predictive formulation tools like NutriGuide and advanced ingredient technologies.
For cocoa, our Cocoa Booster solutions enable up to 20% cocoa reduction without compromising indulgent taste or compliance. For sugar, our Tastesense™ technology delivers up to 50% sugar reduction, helping manufacturers manage cost exposure without compromising on taste while meeting consumer demand for healthier profiles.
These strategies not only reduce reliance on volatile raw materials but also improve manufacturing efficiency, delivering cost savings of up to 24% in bakery applications, while ensuring consistent quality, sustainability, and great taste.

Kerry’s approach to innovation often begins in foodservice before scaling to retail. How does this process work in practice, and what tools or insights make it effective?
Foodservice is our innovation incubator. Concepts validated in quick-service and casual dining channels, where trends emerge fastest, are adapted for retail using Taste Charts, Trendspotter AI, and Kerry Kalaido®, our generative AI concepting tool. These tools accelerate ideation-to-launch by combining consumer insights, sensory science, and chef-led prototyping. At Gulfood, we showcased Gold Brew Qahwa and Nashville Chicken Chips, examples of foodservice-inspired ideas scaled for retail through Kerry’s integrated RD&A network and global manufacturing footprint.
With the rise of GLP-1 health trends and growing demand for high-protein, functional products, how is Kerry adapting its strategy to meet new consumer nutrition needs?
GLP-1 adoption is reshaping consumer priorities toward satiety, digestive health, and metabolic support. Kerry’s Proactive Health platform delivers science-backed solutions like BC30™ probiotics for protein absorption, Eupoly-3™ omega-3s for heart health, and Tastesense™ masking solutions to improve flavour in high-protein, reduced-sugar formulations. Our proprietary research identifies five GLP-1 consumer personas, guiding innovation in formats such as protein bars, functional beverages, and meal replacements. At Gulfood, concepts like the Hot Honey Power Bar demonstrated how indulgence and functionality can coexist.
Kerry recently partnered with KidZania on the Kids Flavour Detective Workshop. How do initiatives like this help your teams understand emerging taste preferences and design products for future generations?
The Kids Flavour Detective Workshop gave us direct access to Gen Alpha’s flavour preferences through hands-on co-creation. Gen Alpha has more active taste buds and higher sensitivity to sweet, bitter, umami and spicy compounds. Insights from this activation helped us develop new cheese powder concepts, Savoury Parmesan and Creamy Gouda, featured at Gulfood. These initiatives ensure our innovation pipeline reflects the evolving tastes of younger consumers, enabling brands to future-proof their portfolios with flavours that resonate across generations.
Collaboration with research institutions such as KAUST and KHNI highlights Kerry’s investment in science-driven innovation. How do these partnerships translate bioscience and smart-health research into everyday food solutions?
Our partnerships with KAUST and the Kerry Health & Nutrition Institute (KHNI) accelerate breakthroughs in microbiome science, cellular biology, and functional ingredient development. These collaborations underpin innovations like personalised AI nutrition platforms, clean-label reformulation, and functional ingredients for better health. By embedding cutting-edge science into everyday application, from sugar reduction systems to hydration solutions, we deliver solutions that meet consumer health needs without compromising taste.
Looking ahead, what does the future of food manufacturing look like to you — and how will Kerry continue to lead the transformation of the region’s food ecosystem?
The future is digital, sustainable, and personalised. Expect AI-driven predictive analytics, carbon reduction strategies, and bioscience-led nutrition to dominate. Kerry will continue to lead by combining taste leadership, sustainability, and science-backed innovation, shaping a resilient food ecosystem for MENAT and beyond. Our ambition is clear: to reach two billion people with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030, while enabling customers to deliver products that are better for people, society, and the planet.
Hospitality
TUTTOFOOD 2026 IS SET TO WELCOME OVER 100,000 VISITORS TO MILAN’S VIBRANT STAGE, MARKING NEW MILESTONES IN INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
TUTTOFOOD, Southern Europe’s leading food business platform, taking place from 11 to 14 May 2026 in Milan, is set to deliver strong international growth in its 2026 edition. With 80% of exhibitors already confirmed, including a record-breaking 30% international presence, participation is expected to rise by 15–20% compared to the previous editions.
In 2025, the Exhibition established itself as a must-attend event on the European trade show calendar, attracting a significant presence of international TPOs and professional visitors from around the world. Top countries included United Arab Emirates, Spain, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, China, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, and South Korea. The show welcomed 95,000 professional visitors from over 100 countries, with 3,000 international top buyers and 4,200 exhibiting companies from around 70 countries – nearly double the numbers from previous editions.
These outstanding data confirm the Exhibition’s role as a strategic hub connecting producers, distributors, and global markets.
The international outlook is reinforced by the partnership between Fiere di Parma, the host of the Exhibition, and Koelnmesse’s international network. This collaboration positions TUTTOFOOD within a broader trade ecosystem alternating with Anuga, and further enhances its internationalization and standing as a key global marketplace.
Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma said: “The strong results already achieved by the second edition of TUTTOFOOD reflect the energy and international appeal of Milan, a city that embodies innovation and connection. They show the power of strategic, system-wide collaborations. Alongside our key partnership with ITA – Italian Trade Agency, whose programs attract top global agrifood buyers, one of the Exhibition’s greatest strengths is the collaboration between Fiere di Parma and Koelnmesse, the organizer of Anuga in Cologne, held in alternate years to TUTTOFOOD.”
Cellie continued: “This alternating schedule will soon become a key reference point for global food business leaders, creating a unique model within the international trade fair landscape — a strategic platform linking Milan and Cologne, two European cities with deep trade fair traditions and a shared spirit of innovation. Together with Cibus, which in Parma during odd-numbered years celebrates Made in Italy and the excellence of Geographical Indication products, they form a truly global food galaxy.”
Six months ahead of the event, early confirmations from 34 countries further highlight the Exhibition’s international appeal and the strong business opportunities available across its pavilions.
In 2026, following the success of the 2025 edition held at Chic Nonna restaurant, TUTTOFOOD will once again host an exclusive networking event during the days of Gulfood. The event will take place in a central and prestigious location, offering a unique opportunity to connect with key players from across the global food industry.
Buyers Program
TUTTOFOOD 2026 will feature an exceptionally rich Buyers Program organized in cooperation with ITA – Italian Trade Agency, bringing together more than 3,000 top national and international professionals, carefully selected to ensure high-value business matching opportunities. The program will involve leading Italian retail chains, supermarkets, cash & carry operators, discount stores, organized distribution groups, and commercial catering professionals, representing all the key players across the food distribution chain.
Internationally, qualified buyers will arrive from across Europe, Middle East, North and South America, the ASEAN area, China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, with further top-level participation expected from Oceania, South Africa, and Central Asia.
A special emphasis in 2026 will be placed on the foodservice sector, engaging key decision-makers from restaurant chains and hotels. The enhanced focus on the on-board catering area will further expand opportunities for networking and cross-sector dialogue, confirming TUTTOFOOD as a leading global platform for the food industry.
A New, More Accessible Exhibition Layout
TUTTOFOOD 2026 will feature a more compact and visitor-friendly layout, designed to enhance navigation and product discovery. Italian and international exhibitors will be showcased side by side across 90.000 sqm of net exhibition space – 15% more than in 2025 – spread across 10 pavilions. This designfosters cross-market engagement and makes it easier for buyers to explore the full spectrum of the food offering.
Two multi-level pavilions will host the packaged food hub, with product distribution carefully organized to create an immersive visitor experience.
The packaged food hub will extend across multiple interconnected pavilions, offering a comprehensive journey through every segment of the food industry. From dairy and deli products to frozen foods, seafood, and proteins, the exhibition will present a wide variety of categories, with grocery playing a central role across several pavilions.
The upcoming edition will shine a spotlight on emerging, largely unexplored agri-food business segments, driving global consumer trends closely tracked by TUTTOFOOD.
Key pavilion highlights will include a dedicated Beverage section featuring the fifth edition of Mixology Experience — an area within the pavilion where the concept of Beverage Pairing serves as the common thread linking the project to TUTTOFOOD — along with spaces dedicated to innovation in the fresh and processed fruit and vegetable sector.
The revamped Tutto Fruit & Veg area will bring together categories and trends from around the world, including fourth and fifth range products, exotic produce, berries, and processed products, with the participation of highly qualified professional visitors from the fruit & vegetables industry.
Among the key new highlights of the 2026 edition of TUTTOFOOD is the launch of a dedicated special area focused on the organic segment, which is experiencing strong growth across major distribution channel. The special area is called TuttoBio by Natexpo and is conceived as an international organic pavilion gathering certified organic production from Europe and beyond. TuttoBio is designed to bring together supply-chain stories, innovation, and professional networking to the show. The project stems from an international cooperation between Fiere di Parma and SPAS, the organizer of Natexpo, the leading global trade show for organic products based in France.
The experience will be completed by thematic spaces devoted to bakery and snacks, confectionery and coffee, celebrating the diversity and excellence of packaged food from around the world.
This new configuration will streamline visitor orientation and enhance the overall experience of product discovery.
Hospitality
RISING ABOVE THE ORDINARY: SKYDIVE DUBAI CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
For 15 years, Skydive Dubai has transformed Dubai’s skies into a global stage for adventure, innovation and world-class skydiving. Today, millions around the world associate Dubai’s skyline not only with its architectural icons, but also with the unmistakable sight of parachutes floating over the Palm Jumeirah and the desert horizon, a scene that has attracted thrill-seekers from more than 100 countries.
Since its inception, Skydive Dubai has completed upwards of 475,000 tandem skydives, welcomed over 100 celebrities and VIPs, and marked 300 plus sky-high proposals. Today, a team of 95 expert instructors from 35 countries continue to build on that legacy every day, contributing to one of the world’s most iconic skydiving operations.
Beyond tandem skydives, Skydive Dubai is also a hub for professional skydivers and recreational jumpers from around the world. Its Desert Campus serves as a dedicated training centre and launchpad for solo-skydiver progression, including learning how to skydive through the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course. Here, new students train alongside seasoned athletes, touring national teams and visiting professionals, forming a vibrant community built on skill, mentorship and a shared passion for the sport.
This pioneering spirit mirrors Dubai’s own narrative of turning ambition into possibility. Over the years, Skydive Dubai has been at the forefront of major aerial showcases, from international parachuting championships and swoop leagues to record-setting formations and technical jumps involving balloons, wingsuits, helipads and landmark buildings. It has also collaborated with beyond 200 global brands on bespoke projects, brought to life by expert instructors, pilots and operations teams. These defining moments have strengthened Dubai’s standing as a global centre for innovative aerial pursuits and continue to draw international audiences and adventure travellers. This leadership is further demonstrated by Skydive Dubai’s long-standing collaborations with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism on high-visibility projects.
“Marking 15 years is a significant milestone for us, reflecting our journey in helping dreams quite literally take flight. Across the Palm Dropzone, the Desert Campus and our wider ecosystem, we have seen how Skydive Dubai contributes to Dubai’s reputation for distinctive, world-class experiences. The legacy of rising above the ordinary is evident in every skydive and every project, each one raising the bar even higher. Our commitment to safety, disciplined operations and continuous innovation remains central to how we welcome people into the sport and support Dubai’s standing as a leading destination for adventure and aerial pursuits,” said Mohammad Javad, Executive Vice President of Leisure at Shamal Holding.
A fitting expression of that commitment is seen in Skydive Dubai’s most recent collaboration with Dubai Shopping Festival, where a female skydiver suspended 1,000 feet above Dubai completed a BASE jump onto Kite Beach. The world-first stunt, performed from a powered airship over an urban skyline, saw her travel past major landmarks on a minimalist wooden swing built specifically for the challenge. She spent six hours suspended beneath the airship, with routes that included six km over water and the longest stretch covering 14 km from Nad Al Sheba to Kite Beach. The feat adds to Skydive Dubai’s archive of technical, visually striking projects that have become closely associated with the city.
Skydive Dubai’s wider ecosystem includes Inflight Dubai, one of the region’s indoor skydiving facilities where both first-time flyers and seasoned athletes practice and refine body-flight skills. It also includes Gyrocopter by Skydive Dubai, offering guests a unique scenic flights over Dubai’s coastline in two-seater aircraft piloted by certified experts.
Skydive Dubai has set industry benchmarks for safety, expertise and operational excellence, elevating the profile and professionalism of the sport. It contributes to play a distinctive role in Dubai’s adventure landscape, welcoming residents and visitors eager to experience the emirate from a different perspective.
Today, it remains one of the world’s most sought-after skydiving destinations, celebrated by seasoned athletes and first-time jumpers alike, a testament to 15 years of rising above the ordinary.
Hospitality
DIVE INTO DUBAI’S FRESHEST SEAFOOD FESTIVAL AT THE WATERFRONT MARKET
This winter, Dubai’s largest food market, the Waterfront Market, invites residents and tourists to immerse themselves in the flavours of the sea at its Seafood Festival, taking place from 10 December 2025 to 7 January 2026.
Known for its exceptional variety and unbeatable freshness, the Market comes alive with a packed month of culinary offers, live entertainment, seasonal décor and exciting giveaways. Highlights include:
- During the Seafood Festival, enjoy exclusive offers from all Waterfront Restaurants, including Paluto Restaurant, BOAT Seafood Restaurant, Yahya Seafood Restaurant and Aylla Seafood Restaurant and Cafe
- Roaming entertainment every weekend, Friday to Sunday, featuring Live roaming music, bubble shows and face painting.
- A vibrant Festive Tree crafted with a seafood theme, bringing a unique seasonal centrepiece to the Market.
- Spend AED 200 or more at the fish market or Waterfront restaurants and receive a complimentary insulated cooler bag perfect for beach days, picnics or weekend getaways and enter the draw to win prizes worth up to AED 5,000 for five winners, each receiving AED 1,000 in Waterfront Market fresh produce.
- Kids can enjoy a fun and educational experience with the Kids Foodie Explorers Passport and Little Rollers trolleys, collecting stamps, discovering new ingredients and receiving a certificate and small prizes along the way.
With over 500 seafood traders offering 260+ varieties from 14 countries, and a live seafood section with 25 varieties sourced from the UAE, Australia, Japan, Korea and Canada, the Market is known for its unmatched freshness, quality and variety. This season’s highlights include Hamour, shrimp, King Fish, Tuna, King Mackerel and Seabream, alongside a wide selection of other fresh catches.
For an even more hands-on experience, the Market-to-Table journey allows customers to select seafood directly from the fish market, have it cleaned onsite, and enjoy it freshly prepared by chefs at the waterfront restaurants – grilled, fried, steamed or crafted into rich curries and soups. From unbeatable seafood and vibrant family fun to scenic waterfront moments, the festival offers a celebration that is fresh, festive and full of flavour.
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