Saudi HORECA 2012...Not as Good as the Lebanese

By Pearlowa



Saudi HORECA  is one of the region's largest trade show for both the hospitality and food and beverage service industry in Saudi Arabia. (For Arabic: Check Alsharq Article http://www.alsharq.net.sa/2012/09/15/488657 للعربي)
I posted earlier this year about the lebanese HORECA event as well ( Feast for the Senses)
HORECA is the biggest annual hospitality exhibition which has been running for 19 years in Lebanon, 11 years in Jordan and 5 years in Kuwait and for the 2nd year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, after the success of the exhibition in 2011.
Key players in the Food and Beverage industry , locally and internationally participate in this annual exhibition. 
I went to the "Saudi" version and it was not comparable to the Lebanese event surprisingly.

Despite the fact that the food industry in Riyadh is much bigger and booming greatly, the participants were not that much and they were not representative of what is going on on the Saudi industry scene.
Some key players were there such as Alrabie, Sunbulah, Nestle ME, BOECKER food safety...
But other vital key players were not there such as Almarai , Nada, Safi Danone...

In the last 3 years I have attended HORECA events in Lebanon, all F&B industry companies (Food factories, restaurants, hotels, culinary institutes..etc ) were there from the small ones to the big onesThat's what made it special...

So the question is why didnt HORECA in Riyadh be not that much representative? Was it some fault from organizers of the event? or that the Saudi industry wasnt interested??
Events

The Saudi Horeca Salon Culinaire

Saudi Horeca visitors can discover the region's latest culinary concepts and trends, watch the talented chefs competing in different food categories, and meet an international panel of renowned judges at the hospitality salon culinaire.

The Live Junior Chefs Competition

For the first time in Saudi Arabia, the country's leading technical schools and hotels management institutions will show off their students' talents during the Live Junior Chefs competition.

The Annual Conference

The workshops will bring key hospitality players from the region to discuss latest trends related to the industry.

The Atelier Gourmand

Famous international chefs will show off their talent by demonstrating live at the Atelier Gourmand. Delicious tasting will take place.

The World Culinary Heritage

SAUDI HORECA will honor a country at the World Culinary Heritage pavilion's live cooking station, where you can discover its culinary traditions and unique flavors.: