Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, FAM STUMABO’s Yannick Lefevre, Sales Manager MEA and LATAM, on why the cut matters more than processors think, and how precision is becoming the new measure of profitability.
It is easy to overlook the cutting process when talking about food security. Storage, sourcing and logistics tend to dominate the conversation, while the blade doing the actual work stays out of sight. FAM STUMABO, a manufacturer of cutting machines, blades and application-driven solutions for the food processing industry, spends its time on exactly that overlooked step. Ahead of Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, Yannick Lefevre, Sales Manager MEA and LATAM at FAM STUMABO, spoke about why a precise cut protects far more than yield, how the company is responding to industry pressure and where processors in the region need to look next.
Food Security Starts On The Production Floor
For Yannick Lefevre, food security is not an abstract supply chain question. It begins at the point where raw material becomes product. “Food processors are under pressure to make better use of every kilo of raw material while maintaining quality, safety and output,” he says. “That makes the cutting process more important than it may seem at first sight.”
A precise, reliable cut protects yield, reduces losses and keeps production predictable, and that is where FAM STUMABO puts its focus. “We design cutting machines, blades and application-driven solutions that help processors turn valuable raw material into consistent, high-quality food products at an industrial scale,” Yannick Lefevre explains. “For us, food security is not only about producing more. It is about producing smarter, with equipment that supports hygiene, durability, serviceability and long-term performance.”
Staying Sharp Rather Than Broad
Rather than chasing every pressure the industry throws up, FAM STUMABO has narrowed its focus. “We see today’s industry pressures as a reason to stay sharper rather than broader,” Yannick Lefevre says. “Processors do not need generic answers. They need the right cut, the right blade, the right machine setup and the right support for their specific product.”
That focus plays out in testing, application expertise and close cooperation with customers before, during and after installation, an approach that helps processors avoid costly trial and error. It also builds trust in automation. “When the cutting process is validated, stable and well supported, customers gain more control over quality, labour input, cleaning time and total cost of ownership,” Yannick Lefevre notes.
Three Trends Behind The Next Cut
Looking across the market, Yannick Lefevre points to three trends shaping demand. Automation is becoming more practical and more urgent, with processors looking for solutions that reduce manual dependency, simplify production and deliver consistent results across shifts, not technology for its own sake. Profitability is increasingly linked to precision, as small improvements in cutting accuracy make a real difference to yield, waste and total cost of ownership under pressure on raw materials, energy and labour. And customers want equipment that is easier to clean, operate and support over time, particularly in fast-growing markets such as the Middle East, where processors want to increase capacity without losing control over quality, hygiene or operating costs.
“For FAM STUMABO, these trends all point in the same direction,” Yannick Lefevre says, “precision cutting solutions that make industrial food production more reliable, efficient and ready for future growth.”
Q&A with Yannick Lefevre, Sales Manager MEA and LATAM, FAM STUMABO
What do food security and resilience mean for your business this year?
For FAM STUMABO, food security and resilience start on the production floor. Food processors are under pressure to make better use of every kilo of raw material while maintaining quality, safety and output. That makes the cutting process more important than it may seem at first sight. A precise, reliable cut helps protect yield, reduce losses and keep production predictable.
Our contribution is practical. We design cutting machines, blades and application-driven solutions that help processors turn valuable raw material into consistent, high-quality food products at an industrial scale. For us, food security is not only about producing more. It is about producing smarter, with equipment that supports hygiene, durability, serviceability and long-term performance.
How are you navigating current industry pressures?
We see today’s industry pressures as a reason to stay sharper rather than broader. Processors do not need generic answers. They need the right cut, the right blade, the right machine setup and the right support for their specific product. That is where we put our focus: testing, application expertise and close cooperation with customers before, during and after installation.
This helps processors avoid costly trial and error. It also makes automation easier to trust. When the cutting process is validated, stable and well supported, customers gain more control over quality, labour input, cleaning time and total cost of ownership.
What are you preparing or looking forward to at Gulfood Manufacturing?
Gulfood Manufacturing has become an important meeting point for us in the region. We have been participating in the show for several years, and each edition gives us a closer view of where processors in the Middle East and surrounding markets want to improve next. The Gulf region, together with adjacent India, is among the fastest growing areas in terms of food production and value addition. This year, too, we expect to meet new companies that play their part in making their countries self-sustainable.
This year, we are preparing to help visitors look at their cutting process with fresh eyes. Where does it cost yield? Where does it slow down the line? Where does product variation affect slice, strip or dice quality? Those are the conversations we value most.
For us, Gulfood Manufacturing is about turning those conversations into practical next steps: the right knife, the right machine setup and the right support to help customers improve their results and grow with confidence.
Any key trends you’re seeing in the market?
We see three clear trends shaping the market.
First, automation is becoming more practical and more urgent. Processors are not looking for technology for its own sake. They want solutions that reduce manual dependency, simplify production and deliver consistent results across shifts.
Second, profitability is increasingly linked to precision. With raw materials, energy and labour under pressure, small improvements in cutting accuracy can make a real difference to yield, waste and total cost of ownership.
Third, customers want equipment that is easier to clean, operate and support over time. In fast-growing markets such as the Middle East, processors want to increase capacity without losing control over quality, hygiene or operating costs.
For FAM STUMABO, these trends all point in the same direction: precision cutting solutions that make industrial food production more reliable, efficient and ready for future growth.
