Agriculture

Livestock market opened

The Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre (ADFSC) has opened a new market in Al Hayer where local farmers can sell livestock to customers. The market located on Al Ain-Dubai Highway will provide the opportunity to the local farmers to sell sheep, goats, camels, and cows directly to consumers. The market will open every Thursday, and the ADFSC will conduct auctions on two Saturdays a month. "Our temporary livestock markets showed us that there was a demand for something more permanent," said ADFSC CEO Chris Hirst. The market can hold up to 1,200 sheep and goats as well as 60 camels and cattle. Members of the ADFSC can reserve the stalls free of charge. “The Al Hayer market will give both livestock owners and consumers a permanent place to do business without the fees or commissions charged by a middle man," Hirst explained. The market will increase operating days if there is sufficient demand, and the ADFSC has plans to open similar markets in other areas of the emirate. The ADFSC urged its member livestock owners to reserve a space three days in advance. Source: Khaleej Times

Arab coffee, tea consumption goes up

The coffee and tea consumption in the Arab world has more than tripled over the last decade with the UAE registering an 85 per cent increase in the last three years alone, said a report. Last year, the world consumed more than eight million metric tons of coffee - 2.4 per cent more than the previous year, according to the latest coffee statistics from the International Coffee Organization (ICO). On a global scale, about 1.4 billion cups of coffee are poured a day, said the report released ahead of a leading industry event. The International Coffee & Tea Festival, the only dedicated event for the coffee, tea and café industry in the Arab world, will be held from October 30 to November 2 at the Meydan Grandstand and Convention Centre in Dubai. Jose Settee, head of operations at the ICO, said: “It is that new customers are being turned onto the bean. Even when times are hard, people still drink coffee. The growth in coffee consumption these days occurs much more in emerging markets, which are bearing up much better under this economic turbulence than in the developed world.” The UAE has been the fastest growing market by volume for coffee in the world with coffee volume sales expected to register an 80 per cent growth from 2009-2014, or a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 12 per cent year on year over the same period. The UAE has likewise been a key tea trading partner, with nearly 18,000 tonnes of tea re-exports in 2010-2011 alone. With a per capita consumption of 3.5 kg each year, UAE residents drink nearly twice as much coffee as people in any other GCC country, while tea consumption in the country has likewise achieved a robust growth rate of 47 per cent. Tea drinking habits in the UAE and across the region have also evolved over the years with the introduction of a much wider variety of teas, including new tea blends that combine more than one type of premium tea and the discovery of the health benefits of tea for people suffering from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, weight problems, cholesterol and other illnesses. Complementing the evolving market trends, the International Coffee & Tea Festival, will include a B2B Trade Show and a concurrent B2C section to cater to all stakeholders of the coffee and tea industry. The B2B Trade Show will gather international suppliers who will be sourcing regional partners as well as businesses looking at growing their distribution network in the region. The B2C section, titled ‘The Café Exchange’ will attract retailers, distributors and coffee shops looking to leverage the festival’s expansive market reach to generate optimum brand exposure and sell directly to consumers. In association with the Specialty Coffee Association of America (Scaa), the International Coffee & Tea Festival will also feature professional workshops and certification programs conducted by Scaa lead trainers from around the world. The UAE Barista Championship remains one of the Festival’s key attractions, as it will gather the UAE’s best coffee makers to determine the country’s representative at the World Barista Championship 2013 held in Melbourne, Australia. In addition, the 1st National UAE Latte Art Championship will debut this year at the festival. Showcasing a creative expression of talent within the UAE; the competition will also determine the UAE’s representative at the World Latte Art Championship 2013 held in Nice, France. Regional and international industry gurus and trade professionals will conduct free-to-attend seminars and workshops at the festival, while participants will also benefit from wide-ranging programs being offered including franchising opportunities, first steps to opening a café business, design tips for café owners, mobile cafés, and distribution opportunities. Ryan Godinho, event director of the International Coffee & Tea Festival, said: “The underlying factor and defining point of the entire event is its emphasis on quality and advancements in the coffee, tea and café business.” “Featuring a whole range of equipment, products, and service providers, the International Coffee & Tea Festival along with the accredited championships creates a hype and atmosphere unique to the café industry. Part of this year's initiative also elaborates on what is commonly referred to as 'the third wave of coffee’, which is the movement of coffee from just 'a commodity' to 'a specialty and artisan product',” Godinho said. The third wave of coffee also focuses on bean origins and low-tech brewing techniques that preserve the integrity of the beans. Anthony Bedoyan, the marketing manager, of La Marquise International, said: “We had a very successful participation in 2011 and we are looking forward to once again leverage the festival as a very effective and ideal platform to create awareness about our company and our core offerings.” “The event brings together key players in the industry allowing for networking opportunities with old and new clients and industry professionals. Our mission this year is to increase awareness of our brands and introduce new products, while meeting professionals and people passionate about coffee and tea to help grow the industry as a whole.” “Overall the festival creates a great atmosphere, attracts the right people, helps grow the coffee & tea industry in the region and that’s what we want to be a part of,” Bedoyan added. Source: TradeArabia News Service

Temporary ban on fish exports in Oman

Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has imposed a ban on the export of some species of fish until September 15. The decision aims to ensure adequate fish stocks at the local markets. The fish varieties that have been embargoed include gaithar (tuna), kanad (kingfish), sahwa, washran, sal, khayit, hamam, kafdar, talah, ghazal, debs, habs, kofdar talah, Ggazal, and kofar. The arrangement also makes it binding on firms to market equal quantities of the types of fish known as shari, bayah, iqam, dalaa, ashkhali, sarif, andaq, and hamour during the said period. Companies complying with this target quota will each be granted a license to export a quantity of fish equal to the quantity marketed locally. Source: Gulf News

Grocery brand opens store in Etihad HO

Jones the grocer, an Australia-based food emporium, has opened its seventh UAE store at the head office of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE. Yunib Siddiqui, managing director of jones the grocer said: “This is one of our most important store openings so far and we’re proud and privileged to be part of the Etihad Airways story.” In keeping with the jones the grocer concept of offering gourmet food for everyday living, the new store will offer a small grocery and high-end café. Employees and visitors will be offered a selection of gourmet sandwiches, soups, pastries, award winning coffee & teas, cold drinks, and pies. There will also be weekly Chef’s specials along with jones the grocer lunch & breakfast boxes. This new location will stock a small range of jones the grocer’s fine groceries sourced from around the world with a focus on the handmade, natural, preservative, and additive free, a statement said. Beyond groceries, customers can also browse a carefully selected range of home wares. Source: TradeArabia News Service

Mawashi brings Armenian Livestock to Qatar for the first time ever

Mawashi, Qatar's cutting-edge livestock company, recently announced the arrival of the very first Armenian livestock to the market, bringing to the market additional options for high-quality and palatable meat and meat derivatives, that are similar in nature to those coming from Arabian countries. This initiative is in line with Mawashi's aim to cater to the needs of the multinational communities in Qatar by offering a wide spectrum of choices at competitive prices. Mawashi received 1,000 sheep from Armenia and is, currently, looking into the possibility of increasing the order owing to its alikeness to livestock brought home from across the Arab world. Mawashi further added that the Georgian livestock witnessed considerable demand on the account of its affordable price of QAR 1,100 and its significant weight of 40 kg per sheep. Moreover, Mawashi noted that the company is gearing up to receive and make available livestock from Ethiopia and Turkey in the upcoming few days and as soon as European-standards and processes for health and quality checks are carried. Mawashi has also received livestock from Somalia of 30 kg each alongside chilled meat of the same source and sheep from Kenya, Sudan, India, and Pakistan. Furthermore, Mawashi announced a substantial increase in the sale of cow meat from Australia, India, Pakistan, and Sudan while getting ready to collect a new shipment from Somalia in the next few weeks. Source: Zawya

Kraft launches unique GCC campaign

Kraft Cream Cheese Original from Kraft Foods has launched a unique campaign which invites GCC residents to share their photo memories of the changing face of the region on Facebook. The campaign atwww.facebook.com/KraftOriginal titled, ‘The Original Treasures of Arabia,’ is being held under the patronage of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture and Information, and is a celebration of its presence of over five decades in the GCC, a statement from Kraft said. It invites GCC residents to share their photo memories of the ever-changing face of GCC over time, and which according to them is the real or Original treasure of the region. Based on the photo’s relevance to the campaign, weekly winners will be announced in addition to the 10 finalists that will be chosen, the statement said. Out of these, three winners will be selected by a panel of judges. The winners will be announced at a prize ceremony and honored by the Kraft Foods MEA panel who will present them with professional camera equipment to facilitate and further his/her talent. The winning pictures will also be included in the region-wide photo book that is being compiled by Lamia Al Rumaih which is aptly called ‘The Original Treasures of Arabia,’ it said. The collectible photo book will be presented to the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture as a tribute to the region where the product has been present for more than half a century. The two runner-ups will also each receive a professional camera. “This campaign is a platform for everyone to cherish and appreciate one’s own country’s culture, tradition, and heritage and pay tribute to Arabia through their photo memories,” said Kray Ray, marketing director, cheese and grocery, Kraft Foods, MEA. “Imbibing devotion for the region among the new generation and strengthening love for their land by giving them a chance to showcase their photography talents is the motto behind this project. With a heritage built on trust and quality for over 50 years, it could have been none other than the oldest cheese brand Kraft Cream Cheese Spread to proudly lead this initiative,” he added. Kraft Original has partnered with Lamia Al Rumaih who is a renowned Saudi professional photographer to judge the final winners of the campaign and also compile the photo book that will be presented to the KSA Ministry of Culture. Rumaih pursued her photographic journey in 2006 and has since then participated in various national and international exhibitions and won several awards. Commenting on her partnership with the campaign, she said: “I am very delighted to have been chosen to be part of such a unique and noble campaign, which aims at showcasing solidarity to the region. I am devoted to give the best of my expertise in judging the participations and contributing with pictures that showcase Arabia for the photo book to make this campaign a success.” The weekly winners will receive iPads as prizes, and the three final winners who will be chosen from the 10 shortlisted photos, will be selected by Rumaih and Kraft Foods MEA unanimously. The campaign runs through the months of June and July. Source: TradeArabia News Service