Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, ULMA Packaging Middle East’s Gamal Ali on sustainability, waste reduction and why food security starts long before the shelf.
Long before a product reaches a shopping cart, packaging has already done a great deal of quiet work: keeping food fresh, keeping it safe and keeping it edible long enough to reach the people who need it. ULMA Packaging, a global manufacturer of packaging machinery and complete packaging solutions, focuses on exactly that challenge. Gamal Ali, Managing Director of ULMA Packaging Middle East, spoke about what food security means for the business this year, how the company is responding to industry pressures and where the packaging industry is headed next.
Q&A with Gamal Ali, Managing Director, ULMA Packaging Middle East
What do food security and resilience mean for your business this year?
For ULMA Packaging, food security begins with protecting food throughout its entire journey, from production to the consumer. Packaging is not simply about containing a product, it is about preserving quality, extending shelf life and reducing food waste. Across the Middle East, governments and food producers are investing heavily in local manufacturing to strengthen food security. Our role is to support this transformation by providing packaging solutions that improve production efficiency while reducing environmental impact. Through our #ULMAweCare sustainability strategy, we help customers reduce packaging material, adopt recyclable and compostable materials where suitable and extend product shelf life without compromising food safety.
How are you navigating current industry pressures?
Food manufacturers are facing increasing pressure to improve efficiency while meeting higher expectations for sustainability, automation and product quality. Our approach is to work closely with customers to identify the most suitable packaging solution for each application rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. Innovation plays a central role in this strategy. ULMA continuously invests in new technologies that enable machines to process thinner films, recyclable mono-materials, fibre-based packaging and compostable materials while maintaining productivity, food safety and package integrity.
What are you preparing or looking forward to at Gulfood Manufacturing?
Gulfood Manufacturing is one of the most important events for the food manufacturing industry in our region. It provides an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with customers, understand evolving market needs and showcase innovations that create real value for food processors. This year we look forward to demonstrating how digital connectivity and sustainable packaging can work together to improve productivity, reduce waste and enhance overall equipment effectiveness.
What key trends are you seeing in the market?
The Middle East food industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by investment in food security, population growth and changing consumer expectations. We see four major trends shaping the market: greater automation, sustainable packaging, food waste reduction and digitalisation through Industry 4.0. At ULMA Packaging, sustainability and productivity go hand in hand.
Source: www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com.