SaudiFood Show 2025 opens in Riyadh with deals over SAR 600M

The SaudiFood Show 2025, the Kingdom’s flagship food and beverage exhibition, officially opened on Monday at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh Front, drawing over 1,300 global exhibitors and major industry stakeholders.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, alongside Eng. Majed bin Rafid Al-Argoubi, CEO of MODON (Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones) and other dignitaries.

Organised by KAOUN International and dmg events in partnership with MODON, the exhibition aims to accelerate the F&B sector’s growth and will run until Wednesday. The opening day witnessed the signing of several major contracts valued at more than SAR 600 million with key players such as Kudu and the Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Group, reinforcing the sector’s strategic importance to Saudi Arabia’s economic development.

During the Saudi Food Summit, Eng. Al-Argoubi highlighted the Kingdom’s vision to localise the food industry and enhance food security through innovation, research and robust supply chains. He noted that MODON hosts more than 1,400 food manufacturing facilities spread across 12 million square metres, generating over 90,000 jobs.

A special ministerial panel featuring senior officials, including H.E. Dr. Hisham Aljadhey of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and H.E. Eng. Khalid Al-Salem of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, emphasised the country’s rapid strides in food production. They noted that over 1,000 food factories have been launched, ranging from startups to high-tech manufacturing facilities.

Ambassadors from several nations, including New Zealand, Malaysia and Italy, also attended the opening, revealing international interest in strengthening food trade relations with the Kingdom. New Zealand’s Ambassador Charles Kingston cited the potential for deepening cooperation in food security, while Italy’s Ambassador Carlo Baldocci called the event a vital platform for bilateral growth in the food sector.

Attendees explored six expansive exhibition halls featuring thousands of products and innovations. The event is open daily from 2pm to 10pm through Wednesday, with entry restricted to trade professionals via www.saudifoodshow.com