Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, Döhler’s Khaled Abo El-Nasr- GM of Doehler MENA, and Janeske Oosthuizen- Head of Market Segment MEA, on backward integration, supply security and the next wave of health and wellness innovation.
Behind every product that promises taste, function or a wellness claim sits a long chain of raw materials, many of them grown, sourced and processed long before a formulation ever reaches a customer’s line. Döhler, a global producer of natural ingredients and integrated solutions for the food and beverage industry, has built its business around owning as much of that chain as it reasonably can. Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, Khaled Abo El-Nasr- GM of Doehler MENA, and Janeske Oosthuizen- Head of Market Segment MEA at Döhler, spoke about what food security demands this year, how the business is holding its footing through industry pressure and where health and wellness innovation is heading next.
Supply Security Built On A Global Network
For the Döhler team, food security comes down to one thing: reliability. “Food security is about making sure our customers receive a reliable supply despite geopolitical uncertainty, climate challenges and supply chain disruptions,” they say.
Döhler leans on the breadth of its own footprint to deliver on that promise. The company operates production sites across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America, with regional manufacturing in markets including Egypt and South Africa. That spread gives the business “multiple sourcing options and strong business continuity plans,” helping it maintain supply even during challenging times.
Meeting Pressure With Backward Integration
Raw material availability, logistics, price volatility and shifting regulation continue to test manufacturers across the region, and Döhler’s answer sits in how far back it reaches into its own supply chain. “We address these through Döhler’s global production network and our broad end-to-end portfolio,” Abo El-Nasr and Oosthuizen explain.
That end-to-end approach starts with securing fruit and vegetable raw materials close to their source, extends through contract manufacturing and now reaches into flavour ingredients and aroma chemicals following recent investment. Together, this backward integration “helps us strengthen supply security, improve cost competitiveness and provide a more reliable supply to our customers,” they say.
Health, Wellness And The Search For Reliable Partners
Two forces are shaping the market Döhler works in, and they turn out to be closely linked. The first is health and wellness, which Abo El-Nasr and Oosthuizen describe as “one of the biggest drivers of innovation, as consumers increasingly look for products that are better for them.” Döhler’s partnership with the Future of Nutrition and Longevity (FNL) Institute is one way the company is acting on that shift, translating research in functional nutrition into food, beverage and health solutions.
The second is a harder-nosed concern: reliability itself. Manufacturers, they note, are “looking for suppliers who can guarantee supply, manage market volatility and provide innovative end-to-end solutions,” which is exactly where Döhler’s global network, integrated portfolio and strong regional presence are meant to make a difference.
At Gulfood Manufacturing, that combination will show up in three concept areas. Protein moves past straightforward “high-protein” claims toward smarter formats built into everyday applications. Gut health takes shape through modern, prebiotic-friendly concepts designed for daily routines. Brain health looks at calm energy, focus and unwind moments, reflecting rising interest in mood, stress and sleep. “We’re preparing concepts that make functionality feel effortless,” they say, “delicious, repeatable and ready for real-world production.”
Q&A with Khaled Abo El-Nasr, GM of Doehler MENA, and Janeske Oosthuizen, Head of Market Segment MEA, Döhler
What do food security and resilience mean for your business this year?
Food security is about making sure our customers receive a reliable supply despite geopolitical uncertainty, climate challenges and supply chain disruptions. At Döhler, we have a strong global manufacturing network across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America, with regional production sites in markets such as Egypt and South Africa. This gives us multiple sourcing options and strong business continuity plans, helping us maintain a reliable supply even during challenging times.
How are you navigating current industry pressures?
We continue to see challenges around raw material availability, logistics, price volatility and changing regulations. We address these through Döhler’s global production network and our broad end-to-end portfolio. Our backward integration, from securing fruit and vegetable raw materials close to their source through contract manufacturing, to recent investments in flavour ingredients and aroma chemicals, helps us strengthen supply security, improve cost competitiveness and provide a more reliable supply to our customers.
What are the key trends you are seeing in the market?
Health and wellness continues to be one of the biggest drivers of innovation, as consumers increasingly look for products that are better for them. Through our partnership with the Future of Nutrition and Longevity (FNL) Institute, we help bridge the gap between science and industry by advancing research in functional nutrition and translating these insights into innovative food, beverage and health solutions.
At the same time, manufacturers are placing greater focus on supply security and reliable partnerships. Customers are looking for suppliers who can guarantee supply, manage market volatility and provide innovative end-to-end solutions. This is where Döhler’s global network, integrated portfolio and strong regional presence make a real difference to ensure that we are here for our customers during the most challenging times.
At Gulfood Manufacturing, we’re looking forward to spotlighting the next wave of health and wellness: where great taste and everyday convenience meet credible functionality. Our concept focus spans:
- Protein: beyond “high-protein” claims to smarter formats incorporating protein options in various applications
- Gut health: modern digestive-support concepts using prebiotic-friendly approaches in easy daily routines
- Brain health: products designed for calm energy, focus and unwind moments, reflecting rising interest in mood, stress support and better sleep
Overall, we’re preparing concepts that make functionality feel effortless: delicious, repeatable and ready for real-world production.
