News From : DagangHalal.com (03 May 2010)
Al Islami Foods, the leading halal food producer in the Middle East, has earned the ‘Best Halal Food’ accolade at Gulfood Awards in a ceremony held here at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Halal Food Award is the first ever in the Middle East.
The inaugural Gulfood Awards attracted over 150 entries across the 15 categories from 26 countries. The entries were judged by an international panel of experts. The awards were distributed at an international trade-only gala dinner, hosted by the UK-based FoodBev Media.
Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Managing Director, Al Islami Foods, commented: “We are highly elated to win this recognition, which is due to the steadfast conviction of Al Islami’s founding father Hajj Saeed Ahmed Lootah. Company’s consistent commitment to consumers in providing genuine halal greatly contributed to the achievement, which reflects company’s standing at par with the multinational halal producers.”
“Besides, we are proud of becoming the first Emirati food company which has won such a strategically important FMCG award. It will help us in our transformation from the local to global company.” Lootah added.
Bill Bruce, FoodBev Media Group Editorial Director and chair of the Gulfood Awards judging panel, said: “The international Gulfood Awards judging panel was impressed with the Al Islami halal product range. The packaging summed up the product’s ability to deliver a quality family dining experience – delivered with passion, and backed up with helpful nutritional advice”.
Gulfood Award 2010 winners include: Best New Non-Alcoholic Beverage – Tangent VENGA Functional Infusions; Best New Frozen or Chilled Food – Rafic Marrouche Restaurants; Best New Fast Food Product or Innovation – Nähr-Engel GmbH; Best Newcomer Brand or Business – Gourmet House Farmed Caviar; Best New Health Food or Beverage Ingredient – Flor de Sal d’Es Trenc; Best Packaging Innovation – Flor de Sal d’Es Trenc; Best Foodservice Product or Technical Innovation – Henny Penny Corporation; Best Environmental Initiative – Convotherm Electrogeräte; Best Marketing Campaign – Al Ghurair Foods; Best New Functional Food or Drink – Elite Naturel Organics; Best Health Education Initiative – Del Monte Foods; Best New Baked or Confectionery Product – Etihad Salehia; Best New Halal Food – Al Islami Foods; Best Marketing Campaign – Al Ghurair Foods; Best Stand Above 100m² – Baking Technologies; Best Stand Below 100m² – Nadiya Ltd.
Bill Bruce commented: “The region’s food and drink industry has delivered an impressive range of innovations and initiatives. From new flavours and ingredients to packaging and food service developments, the judging panel was impressed by the passion and creativity demonstrated by many of the entries.Trends to natural and organic featured alongside exquisite craft in chocolate and bread making while convenience and functionality provided welcome new twists on otherwise tried and tested ideas. We certainly expect that the awards will now become a permanent and important part of the annual Gulfood show”.
— Eye of Dubai