WHERE INDUSTRY POWERHOUSES SET THE STANDARD FOR FUTURE OF SWEETS AND SNACKS

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In an era defined by disruption and innovation, the ISM Middle East Expert Stage is where the sharpest minds converge to shape what’s next for the sweets and snacks industry. This high-powered knowledge platform delivers real-world strategies, data-driven insights, and bold ideas across product innovation, consumer behaviour, and market expansion, all from the heart of the world’s most dynamic F&B region.

With an exceptional line-up of speakers, insightful sessions, and abundant networking opportunities, this conference is poised to set new benchmarks in confectionery excellence. Join us as we redefine the boundaries of taste, trends, and transformation.

WHAT MAKES THE EXPERT STAGE UNMISSABLE?

Industry Intelligence, Sharpened for Impact

From the rapid rise of functional snacking and plant-based confectionery to AI-powered product development and eco-conscious packaging, each session delivers future-focused, commercially relevant content that brands can act on now.

Regionally Rooted, Globally Relevant

Positioned in Dubai, the heart of the MENA region, ISM Middle East is uniquely placed to deliver access to high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and beyond. The Expert Stage offers tailored sessions on how to enter, scale, and lead in these fragmented but booming geographies.

Powerhouse Voices, Practical Takeaways

You will hear from industry CEOs, retail giants, market analysts, tech pioneers, and regulatory experts, sharing real strategies that have transformed categories, unlocked demand, and shaped consumer mindsets.

GLOBAL LEADERS PAVING THE PATH FOR WHAT'S NEXT IN CONFECTIONERY AND SNACKS

 

A THREE-TRACK JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY

Each segment of the Expert Stage unlocks a different lens into the industry — designed to provide a complete, 360-degree understanding of where sweets and snacks are headed next.

Trends, motivations, and behaviours shaping tomorrow’s sweet and snack consumption.

  • What’s Driving the Next Billion Snackers?
  • Snackonomics Revisited: Why indulgent treats still thrive in cost-conscious economies
  • GLP-1 & the New Rules of Treating
  • Gen Z Snacking Unwrapped: Bold flavours. TikTok aesthetics. Purpose-driven buying.
  • Desire Meets Discipline: The duality of the modern snacker
  • The Mood Food Movement: Emotional snacking decoded

How tech, function, flavour and form are shaping the next generation of confectionery.

  • Tailor-Made Treats: AI and the rise of customisation
  • The Mindful Morsels: Functional confectionery goes mainstream
  • AI to Aisle: Accelerating R&D through tech
  • Cocoa Reimagined: Can substitutes still spell premium?
  • What Makes a Product Go Viral? Decoding digital-first launches
  • Beyond Taste: Designing multi-sensory food experiences

Business strategy, regional growth, and the future of retail.

  • Unlocking MENA: Winning in the region’s sweetest market
  • Africa’s Sweet Boom: Navigating a fragmented growth frontier
  • India’s Demand Curve: The world’s largest consumer base
  • Power Players Panel: What distributors really want
  • Retail Reinvented: The evolution of shelf curation
  • The Association Exchange: Insights from MENA, India & Africa

 

WHY IT MATTERS NOW

Consumers are evolving faster than brands can respond. Markets are shifting before supply chains can adapt. Technology is disrupting R&D before it hits the shelf. The only constant? Change, and those who stay ahead of it.

The Expert Stage is your competitive advantage helping you navigate disruption with clarity, confidence, and direction.

Whether you're a startup looking to break into the market or a legacy brand rewriting your playbook, the Expert Stage at ISM Middle East is where your next big move begins.