Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, Cyril Germanos, Sales Food Industry at Euro Vanille (commercial brand: Vanifolia), on what resilience means when routes are uncertain, and why shorter, better-controlled supply chains are paying off.
When shipping lanes shift and lead times stretch, ingredient buyers quickly find out which suppliers planned ahead. For Euro Vanille, a French company exhibiting under the France Pavilion, resilience is not a reaction to the latest disruption. It is built into how the business is organised. Cyril Germanos explains how, ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026.
Anticipating The Risk
“Ensuring food security means safeguarding the continuity of our supply chain in an increasingly uncertain global environment,” says Germanos. For him, that begins with anticipation. The team continuously scans for potential risks, diversifies its transport options and keeps its logistics network flexible, backed by a trusted network of partners.
“These key priorities reflect concrete commitments that guide our daily operations,” he adds. The aim is simple: customers’ production lines shouldn’t stop because a route did.
Short Chains, Steady Quality
The company’s greatest protection is its footprint. Euro Vanille produces in France and sources packaging materials as close as possible to its production sites. “We benefit from a well-controlled supply chain that limits our exposure to the same challenges faced by some companies operating in locally affected areas,” Germanos explains.
The model also supports the compliance and quality standards customers expect. Raw material suppliers have so far not been affected by current conditions.
When Plan A Isn’t Available
Transport remains the pressure point. Alternative solutions are now in place to keep flows moving. Germanos is candid that they are not always the best option, but they let the company keep its service level where it counts. The approach is pragmatic: accept a less perfect route, and keep the promise to the customer.
What’s On The Stand
In Dubai, Euro Vanille will present a natural flavour with a buttery, rounded aromatic profile for bakery and biscuit applications. It evokes the taste of butter where none is used, which helps formulators cut costs, offer lactose-free products and respond to health and nutrition expectations.
The company sees demand moving toward products that balance indulgence with better nutrition, including protein-enriched and reduced-sugar recipes. It also sees growing interest in flavours inspired by spices and premium ingredients such as cardamom, saffron and pistachio. Vanilla, the company’s heritage, continues to give those creations their roundness and balance as a subtle base note.
A Regional Ambition
The show also supports a commercial goal: to strengthen Euro Vanille’s presence in the region, meet new partners and expand its distribution network among local industrial manufacturers. It fits this year’s theme, “Powering Food Security Through Manufacturing Innovation.”
Meet Cyril Germanos and the Euro Vanille team R-K8 | Shk Rashid Hall, France Pavilion, from 3–5 November at Dubai World Trade Centre.
