'Throw away your old playbook,' UAE F&B chief tells industry to plan for shocks

As the world continues to face unexpected disruptions, the UAE food and beverage industry is advised to adopt a short-term approach rather than relying on long-term plans. At the eighth Future Food Forum in Dubai, Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food and Beverages Manufacturers Group, emphasized the need to discard outdated strategies.

Lootah, who also serves as Managing Director of the Africa Food System Forum, stated that the sector has faced numerous challenges in the past, including the pandemic, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the recent Gulf crisis - each of which has tested the resilience of the food systems. However, he remains optimistic about the sector's ability to bounce back stronger each time.

Lootah warned that companies should treat planning as a sprint, not a marathon, given the rapid pace of change driven by digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He also highlighted the impact of shipping pressures as a lasting shift, rather than a temporary issue. The UAE has been actively diversifying its supply chains to counter such risks, working closely with regions like Central Asia, India, Turkey, Russia, and Africa.

Lootah clarified that the food cluster is not a government entity or a private company; its role is to remove obstacles that hinder the sector's growth and expansion. The Future Food Forum aimed to connect local manufacturers with large retailers, facilitating potential business collaborations. Additionally, the forum launched the Cluster Champion Award, which Lootah hopes will become a globally recognized accolade for companies operating in the UAE food and beverage sector.