37 Italian Companies at Saudi Food 2026 in Jeddah

Italy is participating with a delegation of 37 companies at Saudi Food 2026 and Saudi Food Manufacturing 2026 in Jeddah, from 27 to 29 September. The delegation brings together food suppliers and providers of processing and packaging technologies. For those involved in restaurant, café and food franchises, the news offers an opportunity to explore sourcing and equipment options; it is not an announcement of new franchise opportunities.

An Italian presence spanning food and production technology

According to a report published by the Al Imtiaz Al Tijari franchise website on 28 September 2026, the Italian delegation includes 17 companies exhibiting food and agri-food products at Saudi Food. A further 20 Italian companies are taking part in the concurrent food manufacturing exhibition, presenting technologies and solutions used in food and beverage processing and packaging.

The participation is supported by the Italian Trade Agency, in cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Riyadh and the Italian Consulate General in Jeddah. The agency’s pavilion occupies locations 12-H1 and 11-H1 within Halls 10, 11 and 12 at the Jeddah Superdome, which is hosting both exhibitions.

This split makes the nature of Italy’s presence clear: one part focuses on products for sale and consumption, while the other covers the technologies behind food production and preparation. The published report does not announce franchise agreements or new outlets for Italian brands in Saudi Arabia. Its main significance therefore lies in trade, sourcing and food technology.

Food-related exports approach SAR 2.2 billion

The participation comes against a backdrop of trade figures showing the scale of Italian product exports to the Saudi market. According to the data cited by the source, Italy’s exports of agricultural products, food and beverages to Saudi Arabia approached SAR 2.2 billion in the first eleven months of 2025.

Within that total, food products accounted for more than SAR 1.77 billion, an increase of 7.7% compared with the same period in 2024. It is important to distinguish between the two figures: the first includes agricultural products, food and beverages, while the second covers food products alone and is the figure to which the reported growth rate applies.

Across the broader trading relationship, total trade between Italy and Saudi Arabia reached approximately SAR 45.3 billion in 2025, with Italian exports to the Kingdom totalling around SAR 27.8 billion. These are bilateral trade figures, not estimates of the size of the franchise sector or sales by franchised brands. The different reporting periods for food exports and overall trade also mean they should not be treated as directly comparable measures.

The move to Jeddah connects the supply chain

Saudi Food 2026 marks the exhibition’s move to Jeddah, where it brings international suppliers together with buyers from across the region. It runs alongside the food manufacturing exhibition, connecting ingredients and food products with the processing and distribution technologies that support them.

For readers in the franchise sector, the value of holding the two events together lies in the range of exhibits, rather than any assumption that franchise opportunities have been announced. Sourcing a food product is different from sourcing technology to produce or package it. Having both at the same event, however, allows businesses to assess them together when reviewing a brand’s operational needs.

The report does not provide details of contracts secured through Italy’s participation, nor does it specify buyer numbers or the value of deals arising from the exhibitions. The announced company participation is therefore the confirmed fact; any future partnerships or contracts would need separate announcements before they could be counted as outcomes of the event.

What does the news mean for the franchise sector?

The event gives franchise owners and food-brand operators a practical issue to consider: how well the available sourcing and equipment options meet their operational needs. Participation in an exhibition, regardless of its scale, is not enough on its own to establish a supplier’s suitability or a product’s compatibility with a particular brand’s requirements.

When reviewing exhibitors, it is useful to separate three questions: what product or technology is being offered? How closely does it meet the brand’s approved specifications? And what are the terms for supply and servicing within Saudi Arabia? These are assessment questions, not facts established about the participants by the report. Answering them requires direct contact and a review of the relevant proposals and documentation.

The trade figures provide useful context, but they do not automatically demonstrate lower costs or better availability for every product. Nor does growth in food exports imply a corresponding increase in franchise outlet numbers: each indicator has its own scope and limits on what can be inferred from it.

Practical takeaway: Treat Italy’s participation as an opportunity to explore suppliers and food technologies, then verify specifications, supply terms and brand approvals before making a purchasing decision or operational change.