According to a recent Mintel study entitled “Free-from Food Trends,” 43 percent of consumers agree that free-from foods are healthier than foods without a free-from claim. Additionally, another 59 percent agree with the statement that the fewer ingredients a product has, the healthier it is. For example, the gluten-free food and beverage market has steadily been cementing its position as more than a mere dietary fad. According to market research publisher Packaged Facts, sales of gluten-free foods in the US recorded an annual growth rate of 34% over the five-year period ending in 2014, when market sales reached $973 million. In addition, almond milk sales have been growing at a rate of 70 – 80% year-on-year in the UK, as consumers look for a dairy-free alternative to their traditional pint of milk.

While there has been a growing demand for hot and spicy food products for quite a while now, 2016 looks set to become the year that consumers move away from pure heat towards more exotic and aromatic spice blends. The US National Restaurant Association’s most recent survey of 1,600 chefs has predicted that it will be African spices leading the latest flavour trends in 2016. Spices such as berbere, harissa, dukkah, ras el hanout and tsire are all set to appear on menus as seasoning for meat, fish, grains and vegetables. In addition, expect the F&B industry to go all out with creative products embracing spices and chilies in unexpected ways such as beverages, ice creams and chocolates.

By Bilal Al Halabi, Al Halabi Ref. & Kitchen Equipment www.al-halabi.com   There’s a hot new trend in Dubai – mobile catering or food trucks – with an incredibly wide range of food being sold from stalls, kiosks, carts, trailers, vans … it’s only limited by the imagination! And the choice of food is just as broad, from ice-cream and fresh juices through to burgers and hot dogs. A rapidly growing scene of top quality artisan cuisine, this ‘street food’ movement has become a social phenomenon and is considered to be one of the most innovative and engaging developments in catering for many years. Of course, there are certain challenges when setting up such an operation; one of the more obvious being how to design and install a kitchen that is practical and professional in such a small space? The answer for many mobile caterers is, as ever, Al Halabi. Anyone who deals with Al Halabi will know that they love food … they are what you might call ‘foodies’. They discuss food all day, every day with people who work in the catering and food manufacturing industries and, because they are foodies and have a real passion for what they do, they think that the new street food revolution is simply amazing. Any fellow foodies will agree. And it is that enthusiasm that has driven Al Halabi to design, manufacture and install some of the finest mobile catering solutions ever conceived. It’s a rather special and distinct market sector, and is undoubtedly a little more complicated than a ‘bricks n’ mortar’ restaurant, not least because of the limited space. However, Al Halabi is able to provide everything from tabletop fryers through to chillers, and has the design expertise to be able create a food truck kitchen that not only functions perfectly, but looks smart too. From hot food units through to coffee bars and from crepes through to donuts, Al Halabi is able to supply and install the perfect equipment for your business. But naturally, you wouldn’t expect anything less from the MENA region’s No.1 commercial kitchen designer, manufacturer and installer, would you?

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United Foods Company (UFC), a leading Emirati food company in the Middle East has extended its product range by introducing new products under its flagship brand Aseel on (Sunday, February 21, 2016). The company has launched ‘Aseel Trans Fat Free Ghee’ to offer its consumers with more options in healthier food and extend into ‘Arabic Traditional Food’ category with ‘Aseel Tahina.’ UFC’s flagship brand Aseel is a leading Ghee brand in the Middle East and the company announced the launch of the first Trans Fat Free Ghee in the region. Following the launch of Aseel Extra Virgin Olive Oil last year, the company has introduced Aseel Trans Fat Free Ghee in line with its continuous efforts to bring out healthy and tasty products that effectively addresses the growing health concerns of the region. ‘Aseel Trans Fat Free Ghee’ has been developed to resonate with consumer sentiments of health and wellness. A new generation product with premium buttery flavour and significant health benefits is available in two variants of Aseel Trans Fat Free Ghee with the goodness of Sunflower Oil’ and ‘Aseel Trans Fat Free Ghee with Canola Oil’ which is rich in Omega 3 and known to be heart healthy. Fethi Khiari, CEO of United Foods Company UFC’s second offering, Aseel Tahina is made from the finest sesame seeds procured from Ethiopia and prepared by one of the best and oldest Tahina master makers in the Levant region. It is packaged after 35 stages of processing, including refining, filtering, peeling, washing, roasting and grinding without additives. Gluten-free and an important source of iron, Tahina is used as a dressing, marinade or a vital ingredient in Levantine cuisine such as hummus. Fethi Khiari, CEO, United Foods Company, said: “We are proud to mention that Aseel is the No.1 Ghee brand in UAE and other markets in the region. Aseel Ghee owns more than 70% volume market share in UAE and has a strong leadership in other countries, he added. We are also happy to celebrate 40th Anniversary of our company. This embodies our expertise in the Ghee segment and strong understanding of edible oils business in the region. UFC takes the lead to launch the first Trans Fat Free Ghee in the region to offer a heart-friendly product, thereby addressing the health concerns of the consumers. We have introduced ‘Aseel Trans Fat Free Ghee’ after rigorous R&D to change the perception of consumers about Ghee and address their health issues. Its two variants will be preferred for their taste as well as help to gain health benefits, such as keeping weight under control and reducing the risk of coronary diseases along with a balanced diet combined with exercise. In addition, we have made a headway into ‘Arabic Traditional Food’ segment with the launch of ‘Aseel Tahina.’ It is a healthy and nutritious product which is used as a base for numerous Arabic delicious recipes.” We are confident of re-staging Aseel to new heights with the launch of these new products. We urge visitors to come to UFC’s stand to learn more about our new as well as existing range from our portfolio of brands including Aseel, Mumtaz , Nawar and Safi” concluded Khiari.

The last large source of arable land, minerals and fossil fuels, Africa may also be the continent that is the least-equipped to manage and protect its resources sustainably. If pursued with nature’s value in mind, Africa’s growth could mean long-term prosperity for its people; if not, it could bring unsustainable consumption, resource extraction and environmental degradation. Here are some of the changes facing the continent. 1. There are more Africans than ever before. 2. In 2014, one in six people on Earth were African. By 2030, it will be one in five. Africa’s population is projected to more than double by 2060, with 300 million new babies born just between 2015 and 2030. More mouths to feed will put increasing pressure on the continent’s agricultural production, which is already failing to provide enough food for Africa’s current population amid challenges like drought, insufficient financing and lack of infrastructure connecting sellers and buyers. More than half of the African population — and an even higher percentage in East Africa — is dependent on agriculture for at least part of their livelihoods, which means that changes to agricultural productivity would have widespread impacts. Of the world’s 20 countries most vulnerable to agricultural production loss due to climate change, 11 are in Africa. Given the importance of pollination, freshwater provision and other natural systems that make food production possible, implementing sustainable agricultural practices that increase productivity without depleting nature are critical. Conservation International (CI) led the development of a web-based monitoring system called Vital Signs to do just that; by providing diagnostic tools and near real-time data on factors such as precipitation and soil health, the system helps farmers and governments adapt their practices to changing weather patterns. 3. Africa’s workforce is growing faster than any other continent. While this shift reveals the potential of Africa to take a larger role in the global economy, having people ready to work isn’t enough. Michael O-Brien-Onyeka, senior vice president of CI’s Africa field division, explains: “By 2050, one in every four workers in the world will be from Africa — but I’m not sure if all of them will have jobs.” In order for those jobs to be sustainable long term, they must reflect a new economy that accounts for nature’s value. If Africa’s economic growth continues at the cost of its “natural capital” — that is, the forests, fresh water, soil, wildlife and other elements of nature that its people rely on — the continent’s future as a global leader will be in jeopardy. 4. Almost half of Africans live in cities. To much of the world, Africa is synonymous with wildlife — but many Africans have never seen a wild giraffe or elephant. As the growing population of mainly young people migrates to cities in search of work, economists are asking the question: Will urbanization in Africa solve any of its economic problems? Cities offer “investment, innovation, skilled labor, and higher incomes”; for many countries, they’re the hallmark of development. But cities can also bring “congestion, the creation of slums, worsening air quality, floods and inadequate sanitation, and joblessness arising from migration from poor rural communities to urban centers ill-equipped to receive them.” Which direction will dominate Africa’s cities? It will depend on the development path its countries choose. 5. Africa’s middle class is growing fast. A rising middle class is good news for the economy — and the newly affluent members of that group. But too often it goes hand in hand with overconsumption and a host of environmental issues that affect human health, the long-term availability of natural resources and ultimately, economic stability. In places like China, which is projected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economic power, the short-term economic gains of a rapidly rising middle class — and its spending habits — have come with serious environmental ramifications like deforestation and increased carbon emissions from more cars on the road. 6. Half of the world’s 12 fastest-growing economies are in Africa. What can be done? For Africa to manage its resources for future generations, it will have to account for the value of its “natural capital,” as it does its financial and human capital. The Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa, a 10-country consortium spearheaded by Botswana, offers a model for bringing the value of natural resources into economic decision-making.