Article
Nova at Gulfood 2026: Global Insight, Stronger Partnerships and Better Sourcing Outcomes
Nova at Gulfood 2026: Global Insight, Stronger Partnerships and Better Sourcing Outcomes
Article
Nova at Gulfood 2026: Global Insight, Stronger Partnerships and Better Sourcing Outcomes
Article
Nova at Gulfood 2026: Global Insight, Stronger Partnerships and Better Sourcing Outcomes
Name | Role |
|---|---|
Manny de Sousa | Chief Executive Officer |
Leah le Roux | Head of Central Operations |
Nova’s CEO, Manny de Sousa, and Head of Central Operations, Leah le Roux, attended Gulfood 2026 in Dubai.
The Nova View
1. Why Nova Attends: We believe it is our responsibility to attend the major global food trade shows. This is where innovation, supplier movement and category opportunities emerge. It is here our clients stay connected to diversified supply channels, stronger data and the right partners to support execution.
2. A Better Format for Serious Sourcing: The move to two locations improved the experience. More space, clearer category segmentation and easier access to suppliers made conversations more meaningful and insights deeper. After years of crowded aisles, the 2026 remix made sourcing more efficient.
3. India’s Stronger Presence: With India as the Official Partner Country, more than 600 Indian exhibitors participated — the largest Indian presence in Gulfood history. For Nova, this mattered. India is one of our key procurement corridors, and the show gave us access to a broader and deeper network of quality manufacturers and innovators.
Delivering Historic Scale
Metric | Header 2 |
|---|---|
Event attendees | 268,643 |
Exhibitors | 8,500 |
Attending countries | 195 |
Products sourced | 1.5M+ |
Scan across two fully sold-out mega venues | 280K |
Name | Role |
|---|---|
Manny de Sousa | Chief Executive Officer |
Leah le Roux | Head of Central Operations |
Nova’s CEO, Manny de Sousa, and Head of Central Operations, Leah le Roux, attended Gulfood 2026 in Dubai.
The Nova View
1. Why Nova Attends: We believe it is our responsibility to attend the major global food trade shows. This is where innovation, supplier movement and category opportunities emerge. It is here our clients stay connected to diversified supply channels, stronger data and the right partners to support execution.
2. A Better Format for Serious Sourcing: The move to two locations improved the experience. More space, clearer category segmentation and easier access to suppliers made conversations more meaningful and insights deeper. After years of crowded aisles, the 2026 remix made sourcing more efficient.
3. India’s Stronger Presence: With India as the Official Partner Country, more than 600 Indian exhibitors participated — the largest Indian presence in Gulfood history. For Nova, this mattered. India is one of our key procurement corridors, and the show gave us access to a broader and deeper network of quality manufacturers and innovators.
Delivering Historic Scale
Metric | Header 2 |
|---|---|
Event attendees | 268,643 |
Exhibitors | 8,500 |
Attending countries | 195 |
Products sourced | 1.5M+ |
Scan across two fully sold-out mega venues | 280K |
Purchase Interest for Items Came to Source
Category | Header 2 |
|---|---|
Beverages | 14.8% |
Snacks | 11.2% |
Rice, Pulses, Grains | 10.5% |
Sweets | 7.9% |
Meats, Poultry & Seafood | 7.4% |
Dairy | 7.2% |
Dry Goods | 6.4% |
Frozen | 5.6% |
Organic, Health & Wellness Products | 4.9% |
Ready Prepared Foods | 3.9% |
Vegetables & Fruits | 3.9% |
Specialty Foods | 2.7% |
Others | 9.7% |
Buyer Industry
Buyer Industry | Share |
|---|---|
Importers / Trader / Distributor | 28% |
Manufacturing Companies | 19% |
Manufacturer | 17% |
Foodservice / Horeca | 16% |
Retail | 11% |
Others | 9% |
A Truly Global Audience Spanning Six Continents
Region | Share |
|---|---|
Asia | 48.61% |
Europe | 22.1% |
Middle East & Africa | 11.98% |
Africa | 11.03% |
Oceania | 3.13% |
Factors Influencing Sourcing Decisions
Factor | Share |
|---|---|
Product quality | 69% |
Supplier reliability | 58% |
Cost-effectiveness | 39% |
Country of origin | 28% |
Logistics and proximity | 19% |
Ability to scale supply | 14% |
Sustainability practices | 10% |
Regulatory compliance | 8% |
Strengthening Relationships Beyond the Exhibition
At Nova, attending a trade show is only part of the work. During Gulfood, Nova hosted a private boat dinner in Dubai with a select group of global partners, creating time to reconnect, discuss opportunities and strengthen relationships beyond the exhibition floor. Our supplier relationships are not transactional — they are built on trust, consistency and shared ambition.
What Gulfood Confirmed for Nova
Diversified supply is now essential: Broader supplier networks are reducing risk and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Innovation is spreading faster: New products, better technology and evolving categories are opening fresh opportunities.
Supplier relationships still matter: Trust, communication and consistency remain the foundation of long-term success.
India remains a major sourcing opportunity: Scale, capability, adaptability and quality continue to grow across key food categories.
Factors Influencing Sourcing Decisions
Factor | Share |
|---|---|
Product quality | 69% |
Supplier reliability | 58% |
Cost-effectiveness | 39% |
Country of origin | 28% |
Logistics and proximity | 19% |
Ability to scale supply | 14% |
Sustainability practices | 10% |
Regulatory compliance | 8% |
Strengthening Relationships Beyond the Exhibition
At Nova, attending a trade show is only part of the work. During Gulfood, Nova hosted a private boat dinner in Dubai with a select group of global partners, creating time to reconnect, discuss opportunities and strengthen relationships beyond the exhibition floor. Our supplier relationships are not transactional — they are built on trust, consistency and shared ambition.
What Gulfood Confirmed for Nova
Diversified supply is now essential: Broader supplier networks are reducing risk and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Innovation is spreading faster: New products, better technology and evolving categories are opening fresh opportunities.
Supplier relationships still matter: Trust, communication and consistency remain the foundation of long-term success.
India remains a major sourcing opportunity: Scale, capability, adaptability and quality continue to grow across key food categories.
The Takeaway
Gulfood 2026 reinforced the scale, diversity and speed of the global food industry. For Nova, being there is about more than observation. It is about evaluating suppliers, building relationships and turning global insight into better sourcing outcomes for our clients.
Gulfood 2026 was bigger. Broader. Better.
And we were there for our clients.
Global insight. Trusted relationships. Stronger supply chains. Better outcomes for our clients.
The Takeaway
Gulfood 2026 reinforced the scale, diversity and speed of the global food industry. For Nova, being there is about more than observation. It is about evaluating suppliers, building relationships and turning global insight into better sourcing outcomes for our clients.
Gulfood 2026 was bigger. Broader. Better.
And we were there for our clients.
Global insight. Trusted relationships. Stronger supply chains. Better outcomes for our clients.
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© 2025 Nova GTS
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© 2025 Nova GTS