Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing, Mr. Markus Auinger, Executive Vice President Market Zone ME/Africa at KHS Group shares how manufacturers are responding to evolving market pressures, why holistic factory planning is becoming increasingly important, and how technology can help producers achieve more with fewer resources.
As food and beverage producers across the Middle East and Africa accelerate investments in local manufacturing, the conversation around food security is shifting. It is no longer solely about securing supply chains, but about building production ecosystems that are efficient, adaptable, and capable of meeting growing demand sustainably.
For Mr. Markus Auinger, Executive Vice President Market Zone ME/Africa KHS Group, strengthening regional production capabilities is at the heart of creating a more resilient food system. Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing, he shares how manufacturers are responding to evolving market pressures, why holistic factory planning is becoming increasingly important, and how technology can help producers achieve more with fewer resources.
Local Production as the Foundation of Food Security
Across the Middle East and Africa, governments and manufacturers are working towards greater self-sufficiency in food and beverage production. As populations grow and consumer preferences evolve, reducing dependence on imported products has become a strategic priority.
For Mr. Auinger, food security and resilience begin with enabling manufacturers to produce efficiently where demand exists.
“In the Middle East and Africa, food security is closely connected to building strong local production capabilities. Many markets want to reduce their dependency on imports while at the same time serving growing populations and changing consumer needs.”
He believes resilience is ultimately defined by a producer’s ability to maintain reliable operations while making the most effective use of available resources. This includes technologies that help reduce energy consumption, water usage, and packaging materials without compromising quality or availability.
“Ultimately, it is about enabling producers to do more with the resources available to them.”
Managing Pressure Through Efficiency and Long-Term Value
The challenges facing food and beverage manufacturers vary across markets, but common themes continue to emerge rising operating costs, supply chain uncertainty, sustainability requirements, and the need to expand production capacity.
Rather than focusing solely on upfront investment costs, KHS is increasingly helping customers evaluate the broader financial and operational impact of manufacturing decisions.
“We therefore focus strongly on total cost of ownership: high line efficiency, lower resource consumption, reliable operation and solutions that can grow with the customer.”
According to Mr. Auinger, maintaining a strong regional presence is equally important. As producers navigate change, access to local expertise, service support, and lifecycle management can significantly improve operational resilience.
“Just as important in this region is having a strong local presence and being close to our customers throughout the lifecycle of their equipment.”
A Region Focused on Growth and Investment
With the Middle East, Africa, and Asia continuing to attract major investments in food and beverage manufacturing, Gulfood Manufacturing remains one of the industry’s most important gathering points.
For KHS, the event provides an opportunity not only to showcase technology but also to engage in meaningful conversations about the future requirements of the sector.
“There is considerable ambition in the region to expand local food and beverage manufacturing, and we want to show how KHS can support that growth with efficient, flexible and future-ready production and packaging solutions.”
Mr. Auinger also highlights the value of strengthening long-term partnerships, which he sees as a critical component of success in the region.
“It is also about strengthening the long-term partnerships that are so important in this market.”
Looking Beyond the Production Line
One of the most significant trends KHS is observing is the growing demand for a more comprehensive approach to factory development.
While efficiency, sustainability, and production flexibility remain high priorities, manufacturers are increasingly seeking guidance at much earlier stages of investment planning. This has created demand for end-to-end support that extends beyond individual production lines.
“We see a clear need for a more holistic approach to new beverage factories, starting much earlier than the individual production line.”
This is where KHS Innoplant plays a central role. Through feasibility studies, master planning, engineering, and turnkey delivery, the solution is designed to help customers optimise the entire manufacturing ecosystem.
“With Innoplant, we support our customers from the first idea and feasibility study through master planning and engineering, all the way to the turnkey delivery of the complete plant equipment.”
By considering production processes, utilities, energy systems, logistics, and future expansion requirements as part of one integrated strategy, manufacturers can create facilities that are better positioned for long-term growth and operational efficiency.
The Future of Resilience
As the drive towards local food and beverage production continues to accelerate across the Middle East and Africa, manufacturers face a balancing act between increasing capacity, managing resources responsibly, and remaining competitive in an increasingly complex environment.
For Mr. Auinger, the answer lies in combining local production capabilities with efficient technologies and holistic factory planning.
“For Middle East and Africa in particular, we believe this combination of local production, efficient use of resources and holistic factory planning will become increasingly important.”
As industry leaders gather at Gulfood Manufacturing this year, one thing is clear: the future of food security will depend not only on what is produced, but on how efficiently, sustainably, and intelligently production systems are built from the ground up.
Find them at Booth B3-4, Hall 3, from 3–5 November at Dubai World Trade Centre.
