Gulfood and Anuga are two of the world’s biggest food and beverage trade shows. Both attract manufacturers, supermarket buyers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and foodservice operators. But they serve different commercial priorities.
Gulfood is the stronger gateway into the Gulf, Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Anuga is the stronger deep-category sourcing event for Europe, with ten specialist food shows under one roof in Cologne.
The 2027 editions also sit at different points in the calendar. Gulfood takes place in Dubai from 15 to 19 March 2027. Anuga runs in Cologne from 9 to 13 October 2027. That means a serious international supplier or buying team can attend both rather than treating them as direct substitutes.
: choose Gulfood if the priority is Middle East, African and South Asian distribution, grocery trade and international export growth. Choose Anuga if the priority is deep European category sourcing, retail meetings and comparing thousands of suppliers within a highly structured show. Large international buyers can justify both.
Gulfood vs Anuga at a glance
| Factor | Gulfood | Anuga |
|---|---|---|
| Next edition | 15–19 March 2027 | 9–13 October 2027 |
| Location | Dubai, UAE | Cologne, Germany |
| Venue | Dubai World Trade Centre + Dubai Exhibition Centre | Koelnmesse |
| Latest exhibitor scale | 8,500+ exhibitors | 8,015 exhibitors in 2025 |
| Countries represented | 195 countries | 110 exhibitor countries; visitors from 190+ countries |
| Main commercial strength | Global export sourcing with GCC/MENA reach | Deep category sourcing and European retail |
| Structure | 12 sectors across two venues | 10 specialist trade shows under one roof |
| Frequency | Annual | Every two years |
What is Gulfood?
Gulfood is Dubai’s flagship international food and beverage sourcing exhibition.
The show has operated for more than three decades and has developed into one of the most important commercial meeting points for suppliers targeting the Middle East, Africa and Asian markets.
The 2026 edition reached more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries and showcased more than 1.5 million products.
Gulfood now covers two large venues:
- Dubai World Trade Centre;
- Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai.
The two-venue model substantially increases the show’s floor space and sector coverage.
When is Gulfood 2027?
Gulfood 2027 runs from 15 to 19 March 2027.
Opening hours are 10:00 to 18:00 from 15 to 18 March and 10:00 to 17:00 on 19 March.
What sectors does Gulfood cover?
Gulfood’s expanded structure covers 12 sectors.
Recent additions include:
- Gulfood Grocery Trade;
- Gulfood Fresh;
- Gulfood Logistics;
- Gulfood Startups.
These sit alongside core food and beverage sourcing categories.
The Grocery Trade section is particularly relevant to supermarket buyers because it focuses on export-ready, high-rotation grocery products and brands.
What is Anuga?
Anuga is held at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
It is one of the world’s largest trade-only food and beverage exhibitions.
The 2025 edition attracted 8,015 exhibitors across approximately 290,000 square metres.
More than 145,000 trade visitors from over 190 countries attended.
About 94% of exhibitors were international.
When is Anuga 2027?
The next Anuga takes place from 9 to 13 October 2027.
The show runs every two years.
How Anuga is organised
Anuga’s biggest strength is its ten-show structure.
The event groups suppliers around specialist food categories rather than placing the whole industry into one undifferentiated exhibition.
The structure covers areas such as:
- fine food;
- chilled and fresh food;
- meat;
- dairy;
- bread and bakery;
- drinks;
- hot beverages;
- organic;
- foodservice and out-of-home;
- other specialist sectors.
For supermarket category teams, that makes navigation easier.
Which show is bigger?
By exhibitor count, the two events are now in a similar scale class.
Gulfood reported more than 8,500 exhibitors for its expanded 2026 edition.
Anuga recorded 8,015 exhibitors in 2025.
However, raw exhibitor totals do not tell the whole story.
Gulfood’s dual-venue expansion gives it enormous international breadth.
Anuga’s strength is the density of suppliers inside tightly defined food categories.
For a buyer, the useful question is not “which is bigger?” but “which gives me the highest concentration of suppliers relevant to my brief?”
Which is better for supermarket buyers?
Anuga is especially strong for category-led supermarket sourcing. Gulfood is especially strong for international grocery sourcing and building routes into the Middle East and adjacent regions.
Anuga helps category buyers compare many suppliers inside one product area.
Gulfood helps buyers discover manufacturers from regions that may be less represented at a European fair.
For a global buying team, both can deliver value.
Which is better for FMCG brands?
That depends on expansion strategy.
A European brand seeking:
- GCC distribution;
- Saudi Arabian buyers;
- UAE supermarket listings;
- African distributors;
- South Asian importers;
may find Gulfood more commercially direct.
A brand focused on:
- Germany;
- France;
- Benelux;
- Central Europe;
- pan-European retail;
may get greater value from Anuga.
Which is better for private label?
Both have substantial private-label opportunity.
Anuga has thousands of food manufacturers able to produce retailer-owned products across categories.
Gulfood also attracts contract manufacturers and private-label producers looking for importers and retailers.
However, neither is as concentrated around private label as PLMA Amsterdam.
Our PLMA Amsterdam vs MARCA Bologna comparison covers the more specialist own-label trade-show decision.
Which is better for grocery trade?
Gulfood made grocery trade a specific expanded sector.
The show positions Gulfood Grocery Trade around:
- high-rotation pantry products;
- export-ready grocery;
- brands;
- wholesalers;
- retail sourcing;
- distribution.
This makes the event particularly interesting for importers and supermarket buying organisations seeking packaged food from many producing countries.
Anuga has equally strong grocery relevance but distributes it across category halls rather than one Grocery Trade identity.
Which is better for fresh food?
Gulfood has expanded with Gulfood Fresh.
Anuga includes chilled and fresh food as part of its specialist fair structure.
Neither replaces a dedicated produce event for buyers focused almost entirely on fruit and vegetables.
Our Fruit Logistica vs Fruit Attraction comparison remains more relevant for specialist produce sourcing.
Which is better for food logistics?
Gulfood has made logistics a more visible part of the show.
Gulfood Logistics brings together:
- cold-chain companies;
- freight operators;
- warehousing;
- supply-chain technology;
- automation;
- digital trade systems.
This is particularly useful in Dubai because the region is highly dependent on imported food and international freight.
Anuga also attracts logistics and technology providers, but the event remains more strongly organised around food categories.
Which is better for foodservice?
Anuga has deep out-of-home and foodservice participation.
Its visitor rules explicitly include hotel, gastronomy, catering and communal-food decision-makers.
Gulfood also has enormous hospitality relevance because Dubai is a major hotel, restaurant and tourism market.
For suppliers selling equally into supermarket and foodservice, either event can work.
Which is better for innovation?
Both shows now position innovation heavily.
Gulfood has expanded into:
- AI;
- automation;
- food technology;
- startups;
- smart logistics.
Anuga combines product innovation with specialist sector depth and industry discussions.
Gulfood can be particularly useful for early-stage technology and supply-chain discovery.
Anuga can be particularly useful for innovation inside established categories.
Which event is better for European suppliers?
A European manufacturer looking outside Europe may prioritise Gulfood.
Dubai offers access to buyers and distributors serving:
- UAE;
- Saudi Arabia;
- Qatar;
- Kuwait;
- Oman;
- Africa;
- India;
- other Asian markets.
Anuga remains more useful for strengthening European retail and distribution relationships.
Which event is better for Middle Eastern suppliers?
Gulfood is the natural home-market international platform.
But Anuga can be extremely valuable to a Middle Eastern company seeking European importers and retailers.
A supplier should therefore separate home-region visibility from export-market access.
Which show has more international reach?
Both are highly international.
Gulfood reports exhibitors from 195 countries.
Anuga 2025 had exhibitors from 110 countries and visitors from more than 190 countries.
The key distinction is regional commercial gravity.
Gulfood naturally attracts deeper GCC, Middle East, African and South Asian participation.
Anuga naturally attracts deeper European retail participation.
How should supermarket buyers prepare for Gulfood?
The new two-venue format makes preparation essential.
- Define the categories you need.
- Identify which venue holds those sectors.
- Book priority supplier meetings.
- Group meetings by venue and hall.
- Leave dedicated time for Grocery Trade and Fresh.
- Check import capability before spending time on a supplier.
- Record minimum orders and distributor status.
- Ask about GCC labelling and Halal requirements.
- Track samples immediately.
- Set follow-up deadlines before leaving Dubai.
How should buyers prepare for Anuga?
Use the ten-show structure.
- Build category-specific supplier lists.
- Map each meeting by hall.
- Separate must-meet suppliers from discovery time.
- Agree category objectives before travel.
- Assign different team members to different halls.
- Book major suppliers early.
- Record prices, certifications and capacity.
- Collect samples selectively.
- Review actions each evening.
- Schedule post-show calls before leaving Cologne.
What should buyers ask exhibitors?
- Where is the product manufactured?
- Which markets do you already supply?
- Which retailers list the product?
- Can you manufacture private label?
- What is the minimum order?
- What is the normal lead time?
- Which certifications does the factory hold?
- Can you handle our language and label requirements?
- Who manages distribution?
- What happens if volume doubles?
Which is more expensive to exhibit at?
Exhibition cost cannot be compared from floor-space prices alone.
Anuga publishes 2027 stand-space prices:
- early bird: €358 per m²;
- regular: €380 per m²;
- last call: €423 per m².
Those prices do not include the full cost of participation.
Exhibitors also pay for:
- stand construction;
- electricity;
- freight;
- staff;
- travel;
- hotels;
- samples;
- marketing;
- cleaning;
- local services.
Gulfood exhibitors should obtain current official quotes for their chosen sector and venue because packages and placement vary.
Does Gulfood’s two-venue model create problems?
It creates both opportunity and complexity.
The benefit is more floor space and more suppliers.
The risk is lost time travelling between venues.
Buyers need to plan entire blocks of the day around one venue where possible.
Trying to move constantly between Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City can reduce meeting productivity.
Is Anuga easier to navigate?
Anuga is still enormous.
Its advantage is that Koelnmesse operates as one exhibition complex and the ten-show structure helps category planning.
Buyers can still walk very long distances.
Hall planning remains essential.
Which show is better for small suppliers?
Small suppliers can succeed at either show if meetings are arranged before arrival.
The mistake is relying on random footfall.
A small brand should arrive with:
- a clear export proposition;
- trade pricing;
- production capacity;
- certifications;
- samples;
- simple sales material;
- pre-booked meetings.
Which show is better for startups?
Gulfood now has a dedicated startup sector.
That makes it particularly visible for early-stage food and technology companies.
Anuga also showcases emerging businesses and innovation, but within its wider category structure.
Which show is better for distributors?
Gulfood is particularly strong for distributor and importer relationships because so many exhibitors are explicitly looking for country representation.
Anuga is also excellent for distributors, especially those serving European markets.
Can companies attend both in 2027?
Yes.
Gulfood runs in March.
Anuga runs in October.
The seven-month gap gives suppliers time to follow up Gulfood leads before preparing for Anuga.
How should exhibitors measure return?
Do not measure success by stand visitors.
Track:
- qualified buyer meetings;
- sample requests;
- quotations;
- distributor negotiations;
- factory audits;
- trial orders;
- listings;
- revenue won.
Gulfood vs Anuga for supermarket sourcing
The strongest answer is:
- Gulfood: international export sourcing, GCC/MENA/Africa/South Asia, grocery trade and logistics.
- Anuga: category depth, European retail, structured supplier comparison and foodservice.
That distinction is more useful than arguing over which event is “the biggest”.
How this fits GTN’s trade-event cluster
This comparison extends GTN’s event series alongside Anuga vs SIAL Paris, PLMA Amsterdam vs MARCA Bologna and Fruit Logistica vs Fruit Attraction.
Each comparison answers a different buying decision rather than creating another generic trade-show list.
Frequently asked questions
When is Gulfood 2027?
15–19 March 2027 in Dubai.
When is Anuga 2027?
9–13 October 2027 in Cologne.
How many exhibitors does Gulfood have?
The 2026 edition reported more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries.
How many exhibitors attended Anuga 2025?
8,015 exhibitors from 110 countries.
How many visitors attended Anuga 2025?
More than 145,000 trade visitors from over 190 countries.
Is Gulfood annual?
Yes. Gulfood is an annual event.
Is Anuga annual?
No. The main Cologne event runs every two years.
Which show is better for the Middle East?
Gulfood has the stronger natural buyer and distributor base for GCC and wider Middle Eastern markets.
Which show is better for Europe?
Anuga generally offers deeper access to European retail buyers and category sourcing.
Can supermarket buyers attend both?
Yes. The 2027 events are seven months apart, so attending both can make sense for global sourcing teams.
Editor’s Note: Dates, exhibitor figures and event structure were checked against current organiser information.
