Yummex 2017: Middle East confectionery innovation award winners

18-Sep-2017 - Last updated on 20-Sep-2017 at 12:37 GMT

Sour marshmallows and protein chocolate among yummex Middle East Innovation Award Winners. Photo: yummex

A sugar-free, high protein product has won the yummex Middle East Innovation Award for best chocolate.

German snacking startup Fitmeals took the prize for its vegan and sugar-free Fitmeals protein chocolate.

Growing health consciousness across MENA

Fitmeals_Protein_Chocolate_Crossies_240x135 — Fitmeals chocolate is fortified with pea protein and sweetened with maltitol.

Andreas Serwotka, sales manager at Fitmeals, said: “There is a growing health consciousness across the MENA region, and particularly in the UAE. Our products perfectly fit this demand, without compromising on great taste.”

Yummex trade fair is currently running at Dubai’s World Trade Center from September 18-20.

Y3K_Cosmic_Cookie_Mousse_240x — Bakery winner Y3K

The 11^th edition of the show is run by Koelnmesse, the same organizers as ISM & ProSweets in Cologne.

The yummex Middle East Innovation Awards, organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in partnership with Köelnmesse, honors products shaking up a category.

The awards cover four categories - Chocolate, Hard & Soft Candy, Bakery Products and Snacks - which are judged by an independent jury of experts.

The winners were:

Best Chocolate: Fitmeals GmbH – for Fitmeals protein chocolate - a sugar-free, vegan and high-protein chocolate.
Best Hard & Soft Candy: Blooming Foods FZCO – for Nom Nom Sours - halal-certified marshmallows.
Best Snacks: Agro Bio Seed – for caramoon - caramel fudge popcorn
Best Bakery Products: Y3K, LLC – for Y3K cosmic cookie mousse - an ice cream that doesn’t require freezing.

Sour marshmallows

UAE-based startup Blooming Foods prevailed in the ‘Best Hard & Soft Candy’ category for its Nom Nom Sours.

nom noms1 — Nom Noms Sours currently come in cola flavor only, but the company plans to add further variants

The company claims to be the first local producer of marshmallows in UAE and has developed technology to produce sour marshmallows, which it says had been a challenge for the industry.

Agro_Bio_Caramoon_240x135 — Snacks award winner Agro Bio Seed's caramoon caramel fudge popcorn

Its sales & marketing director Laurence Bolger, said: “Our Nom Nom Sours are cola flavoured marshmallows that are totally unique in the market, and sold at only one dirham ($0.27) a pack. We wanted to provide the MENA region with a tasty treat that they can guarantee is Halal certified.”

Yummex Middle East is taking place during Dubai International Hospitality Week and is held in conjunction with new hospitality show GulfHost as well as The Speciality Food Festival and SEAFEX Middle East.

The organizers expect 50,000 global visitors across all shows for the three days.