Food, beverage, and hospitality exhibition Saudi HORECA 2023 recently held its successful 12th edition from November 27-29 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The event, supported by the Kingdom’s Culinary Arts Commission, was colocated with the renowned Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie, a chocolate showcase that originated in Paris and now takes place in over 17 cities worldwide.
Spanning 30,000 square meters, Saudi HORECA and Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie brought together 420 local, regional, and international companies to showcase their innovative products, latest technologies, and services. Over 50,000 trade professionals attended the shows, taking advantage of the opportunity to network, discover new possibilities, and plan the future of their companies with industry leaders and prominent business owners.
The opening ceremony included welcoming speeches from Hicham Al-Rabbah, a board member of the organizing company SEMARK Group, and Joumana Damous Salameh, CEO of Hospitality Services, the co-organizing company.
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Local, regional, and international companies showcased innovative products, the latest technologies, and services at Saudi HORECA and Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie.
During the event, the jury of the Top Chef program, including renowned chefs and media personalities, Chef Maroun Chedid, Chef Robert Chinn, and Chef Mona Mosly, were honored. They were joined by industry professionals, ambassadors, and notable figures such as Bassel Al-Radi, Saoud Al-Rajhi, Nayef Al-Rajhi, Mohammed Al-Ithnayn, and Al-Rabbah. The organizers praised the chefs for their impact on the culinary scene in the Middle East and their inspiration to aspiring chefs.
The event also featured exciting competitions, including the Hospitality Salon Culinaire, Saudi Barista Competition, Mocktail Zero Competition, chocolate fashion show, pastry show, Salon du Chocolat Junior, and various cake competitions and demos. With a jury of over 60 chefs and experts, many of whom traveled from abroad, the competitions showcased the talent and skills in the industry.
In addition to the competitions, Saudi HORECA hosted over 20 keynote speakers who discussed industry-related topics in a series of talks. Panel discussions were held with hoteliers, food experts, tech firms, and other relevant stakeholders.