![Visitors in one of Gulfood's 24 large halls.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7FQAPRGXNVCJXIHXCIG6TDFDNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b645426e5f09624605fcf9e50f58214229bb9c88882ffc2aa4950683fd8bc4e2&width=400&height=225)
![A chef prepares food at Gulfood at Dubai's World Trade Centre. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VOAPFSQFKZB77G7PLED4EBY3W4.jpg?smart=true&auth=95eba61c353d99615aa89f1467dbe3036f82b007677654781464332f657dac15&width=400&height=225)
![Models wear artificial fruits and vegetables.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYK7NTUDTFAFLBHVPSQHDHKN24.jpg?smart=true&auth=e74635d7e921e09b78ce6565d04dd7d3d1248e8af742e5a78c28c3a832b0c374&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors at Gulfood, which has gathered together thousands of brands from more than a hundred countries.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NJEAG4H7WZDS3KBPQDPWQNNHRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5d58ffdeff4bfcad86281f9da9d66dbad23fa1c45c27d00af18ca9590589030&width=400&height=225)
![A pineapple brand mascot.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESA7MGHGXNAN7LXIAHSYIUQSFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a5a46f18e07616c5d440fc6506eb3d942eb8f732bacb504d4cb42963e174307&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors at a stand at the Gulfood exhibition.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7YY2JH75NJHN5B2Z7YCP5ZZEV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=42a731ba68ea02f00bc2c1a75c5442673ad942bfa1a28f41ad73e0da0630eb89&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors at a stand run by one of Gulfood's 5,500 exhibitors.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMSLYDCO5BCKFKLW363V26FK7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=8109b6cb0a0e6ee0a459ec07dc384df0e58305dca7a206af00927d8003c0e821&width=400&height=225)
![Meat products on display at the Gulfood held at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B347UNZXURAWDGOQZ5MN64RPX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2d0b1ee1e143ddb91e783e3a8acf880ee0d4de80ed8d566194fb94012dfe93c&width=400&height=225)
![A doughnut stand at the Gulfood exhibition.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTVMKJTI75EP7I6RJ53FRDEBSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f11e868ea38c78d70e6da66246e262001fa2d05497feecf7e9eb0af60cc67d4b&width=400&height=225)
![Gulfood 2024 boasts one million square feet of show floor space.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AEBFHZW2U5BP5EE4P3QLRG7JPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=60a2f4b3f86bf5f4283b5a9f8d8322f19fb687bfc2b9f15b76888a4da8371720&width=400&height=225)
![Bakery products on display at the Gulfood exhibition.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZB3ZZZMYRBZPME3N54IVPQQX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a13f5cb8c77d841ae77b71289fc35bc5136a5b3c152fbdf2d2841262c448e6b&width=400&height=225)
![This year's Gulfood has 190 country pavilions, the most in the event's history.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NZK4W4B7SZBAXA7XWLCNLQYICU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b70ab19067d1e2c58d9ecafe843e3c23dbe9052ad5ec048ba6797a4ab218cb83&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors in one of Gulfood's 24 large halls.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7FQAPRGXNVCJXIHXCIG6TDFDNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b645426e5f09624605fcf9e50f58214229bb9c88882ffc2aa4950683fd8bc4e2&width=400&height=225)
![A chef prepares food at Gulfood at Dubai's World Trade Centre. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VOAPFSQFKZB77G7PLED4EBY3W4.jpg?smart=true&auth=95eba61c353d99615aa89f1467dbe3036f82b007677654781464332f657dac15&width=400&height=225)
![Models wear artificial fruits and vegetables.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYK7NTUDTFAFLBHVPSQHDHKN24.jpg?smart=true&auth=e74635d7e921e09b78ce6565d04dd7d3d1248e8af742e5a78c28c3a832b0c374&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors at Gulfood, which has gathered together thousands of brands from more than a hundred countries.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NJEAG4H7WZDS3KBPQDPWQNNHRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5d58ffdeff4bfcad86281f9da9d66dbad23fa1c45c27d00af18ca9590589030&width=400&height=225)
![A pineapple brand mascot.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESA7MGHGXNAN7LXIAHSYIUQSFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a5a46f18e07616c5d440fc6506eb3d942eb8f732bacb504d4cb42963e174307&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors at a stand at the Gulfood exhibition.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7YY2JH75NJHN5B2Z7YCP5ZZEV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=42a731ba68ea02f00bc2c1a75c5442673ad942bfa1a28f41ad73e0da0630eb89&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors at a stand run by one of Gulfood's 5,500 exhibitors.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMSLYDCO5BCKFKLW363V26FK7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=8109b6cb0a0e6ee0a459ec07dc384df0e58305dca7a206af00927d8003c0e821&width=400&height=225)
![Meat products on display at the Gulfood held at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B347UNZXURAWDGOQZ5MN64RPX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2d0b1ee1e143ddb91e783e3a8acf880ee0d4de80ed8d566194fb94012dfe93c&width=400&height=225)
![A doughnut stand at the Gulfood exhibition.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTVMKJTI75EP7I6RJ53FRDEBSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f11e868ea38c78d70e6da66246e262001fa2d05497feecf7e9eb0af60cc67d4b&width=400&height=225)
![Gulfood 2024 boasts one million square feet of show floor space.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AEBFHZW2U5BP5EE4P3QLRG7JPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=60a2f4b3f86bf5f4283b5a9f8d8322f19fb687bfc2b9f15b76888a4da8371720&width=400&height=225)
![Bakery products on display at the Gulfood exhibition.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZB3ZZZMYRBZPME3N54IVPQQX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a13f5cb8c77d841ae77b71289fc35bc5136a5b3c152fbdf2d2841262c448e6b&width=400&height=225)
![This year's Gulfood has 190 country pavilions, the most in the event's history.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NZK4W4B7SZBAXA7XWLCNLQYICU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b70ab19067d1e2c58d9ecafe843e3c23dbe9052ad5ec048ba6797a4ab218cb83&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors in one of Gulfood's 24 large halls.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7FQAPRGXNVCJXIHXCIG6TDFDNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b645426e5f09624605fcf9e50f58214229bb9c88882ffc2aa4950683fd8bc4e2&width=400&height=225)
Keeping prices down amid Red Sea tensions is a struggle, say supermarket chiefs
Insurance and container expenses add strain for food companies, along with supply concerns
![Ali Al Shouk](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd51bea0e-eb5a-4d14-b57e-b48adee7f154.png?smart=true&auth=869d7964208dd516bd3c9357e246196d9f7e15a20c0faa6e4482af0394cfc396&width=70&height=70)
Ali Al Shouk
February 20, 2024
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February 20, 2024