Here’s what restructuring the food and beverage trade landscape looks like: 

• RETHINK YOUR TRADE STRATEGY BEFORE THE WORLD MOVES ON

The dust has not settled from 2025’s tariff shifts. What we’ve seen is not a blip, but a recalibration of global trade corridors. It is no longer about short-term adjustments. It is about redesigning business models to operate amid permanent uncertainty.

• BUILD RESILIENCE INTO YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN NOW

The smartest F&B leaders are not waiting. They are: diversifying sourcing to reduce geopolitical exposure; embedding tech and automation to stay ahead of inflation; entering new trade corridors early and securing strategic partnerships. This is not risk management. It is growth acceleration.

• SECURE YOUR PLACE IN THE NEW GLOBAL POWER MAP

Capital, manufacturing and investment are flowing into new regional strongholds. UAE, India, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Mexico are rising fast. With global food trade now exceeding 2 trillion US dollars, your supply chain and sourcing decisions must reflect the reality of a reshaped world. Are your partners ready for what comes next?

• OUTPACE INFLATION THROUGH RELENTLESS EFFICIENCY

Inflation is not receding. In 2026, operational efficiency is the defining line between those who scale and those who stagnate. The companies who understand where their competitors are cutting costs and gaining speed will be the ones who claim market share.

• PUT AI TO WORK AT THE HEART OF YOUR OPERATION

AI is no longer aspirational. It is now operational. In 2025, AI began generating over 100 billion US dollars in value across the food industry, driving efficiency, accuracy and insight at scale. It is already transforming forecasting, production and pricing and the most future-ready businesses are using it to lead.

Gulfood 2026 Is Leading The Shift From The World's Largest Food Trade Arena To A Systems-change Engine 

Gulfood has long been the world’s largest trade event for food. In 2026, it becomes something more, a systems-change platform for the global F&B industry. Core sectors like meat, dairy, grains, beverages, pulses, and shelf-stable essentials remain at full strength. But now they stand alongside bold new verticals built for what’s next. Here’s what you can expect at the show:

• Build an intelligent supply chain at GULFOOD AI, a new event launch uniting big tech, startups, investors, policy-makers, & food ecosystem leaders to create future food systems.
• Poised to change the F&B landscape in ways we never imagined, Smart Food AI combines the power of AI and machine learning with the complexities of food science and technology.
• Optimise your operations at Gulfood Logistics, connecting with 3PL leaders, port authorities and warehousing innovators.
• Source from the next agricultural giants at Gulfood Agritech, linking global buyers with new production markets and industry leaders setting the agenda for the most sustainable, secure future of food.
• Discover game-changing startups in our dedicated Startup Hub, where global disruptors launch their boldest innovations.
• Reduce retail costs with breakthrough innovation in Retail Tech, from AI-driven analytics to seamless fulfilment systems.
• Expand your product portfolio at the Grocery Trade zone, the world’s sourcing platform for high-volume private label and FMCG products.
• Navigate the complexities of fresh trade in a centralised hub dedicated to Fresh Produce where timing, quality, and sourcing precision drive every decision.

Every Buyer. Every Vertical. Every Region. Wired In. Scaling Fast.

Join us at Gulfood 2026. The World’s Most Complete and Connected Food Ecosystem.