Kerry Showcases Flavour Technology and GLP-1 Health Trends at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025

By Jenny Susan / November 27, 2025

Dubai, UAE: Kerry successfully wrapped up its participation at Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 after welcoming visitors to Kerry Unboxed. Over three days, Kerry’s booth became a popular spot for visitors. It featured live cooking and barista sessions, expert discussions, and the launch of new flavour innovations inspired by both consumer insights and the next generation’s preferences.

Inspiring the Next Generation with KidZania

One of this year’s highlights was Kerry’s partnership with KidZania. They collaborated on the Flavour Detective C0-Creation Workshop. This fun, engaging activity encouraged children to explore the building blocks of cheese flavour. Their feedback provided broad insights into taste preferences and their input helped inspire two new innovations: Savoury Parmesan and Creamy Gouda cheese powders.

Both ingredients deliver rich, authentic cheese flavour. They are well-suited to regional and international snacks. At Gulfood Manufacturing, Kerry demonstrated how children’s natural curiosity can spark ideas and influence the future of family-focused foods.

Innovation, Taste, and Sustainability at the Forefront

On Day 1, İnanç Işık, General Manager for Retail, Kerry Middle East, joined industry leaders for the Visionary Leaders in Armchair panel. They discussed how collaboration and innovation are changing global food manufacturing.

He explained that for any innovation to succeed, taste, nutrition, and sustainability must work together. However, he noted that taste remains the biggest factor behind consumer choices. He also shared how Kerry’s technologies are helping brands cut cocoa use by up to 20% and sugar by up to 50% while keeping the same taste and quality.“Our foodservice collaborations let us test and refine ideas quickly,” said Işık. He stressed that this increases success rates in a region where few new products achieve commercial success. “It’s how we ensure our innovations remain creative, relevant, and commercially viable.”

He added that new health technologies like GLP-1 are changing what people want from their food. This creates a stronger demand for high-protein, functional, and affordable products that fit regional preferences. “We’re focused on scalable innovations that combine great taste, smart nutrition, and cost efficiency,” he concluded.

Smart Health: Science, Nutrition, and Real-World Application

On Day 2, Professor Imed Gallouzi, Chair of the Smart Health Centre at KAUST and Scientific Advisor to KHNI, expanded on the future of food. He emphasized that innovations prioritising taste, nutrition, and sustainability primarily drive this future. He asserted that taste and nutrition are no longer competing priorities; they must co-exist to meet the demands of tomorrow’s consumer.

“Smart health is becoming an essential part of how future consumers will live, eat, heal, and thrive,” said Professor Gallouzi. “Diagnostics, nutrition, and personalised health technologies will help us tailor nutrition plans not only to the person’s health needs but also to their taste.” He positioned science-driven nutrition as the bridge between these worlds, noting that Kerry is leading this globally. Kerry’s work aligns closely with KAUST’s mission to turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world innovation, supporting the Middle East’s growth as a hub for smart-health research and technology.

Kerry’s Continued Commitment to the Region

Kerry Unboxed successfully demonstrated the company’s ongoing commitment to advancing the Middle East’s food and beverage landscape through innovation, collaboration, and insight by blending global expertise with local creativity, Kerry continues to support brands in delivering products that are delicious, sustainable, and relevant to consumers’ evolving needs.

“Gulfood Manufacturing” 2025 has been a powerful reminder that the future of food in our region is being shaped by collaboration, creativity, and a relentless focus on taste,” said İnanç Işık. “Sustainable solutions must never compromise on flavour or functionality. Our ability to rapidly test ideas in foodservice, adapt to new health trends, and deliver affordable, customised nutrition is what sets Kerry apart. We’re proud to help our customers turn global trends into local success stories.”