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Food producers, importers, and exporters worldwide enthusiastically gathered at this year's Thaifex-Anuga Asia, recognized as Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage trade show. Jointly organized by Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Koelnmesse, the highly impressive event ran from May 23 to May 27 at the Impact Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, Thailand.
The trade show ended on a high note with a record-setting 3,034 exhibitors from 45 countries filling up the vast 130,000 square meters exhibition center. The attendance marked a significant growth compared to the pre-pandemic show in 2019, which only saw 2,745 exhibitors.
Firmly establishing its status as one of the most influential global platforms for F&B professionals, Thaifex-Anuga further attracted over 78,764 visitors, all of them buyers and decision-makers from 133 countries.
In an interview with international media, which included The Manila Times Lifestyle, Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director and Vice President for Asia-Pacific of Koelnmesse, explained, “Over the decades, we have built a strong foundation of trust with exhibitors and sponsors, establishing a reputation. The growth and scale of this event here resulted from 20 years of dedicated work and unwavering effort.”
“What sets us apart is our uniqueness as a one-stop destination. Participants can engage with key players in the industry, facilitating year-long business connections. Whether exporting or importing from the region, this is the central hub where everyone comes together. The significance of our event lies in its establishment as the premier platform for F&B business in the Asia Pacific. While there are numerous food shows worldwide, each with its own local or specialized focus, our event holds the distinction of being the ultimate show for the Asia Pacific region,” he added.
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Besides Thailand, countries showing a strong presence at the event included China, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Turkey, the United States and Vietnam. As for the Philippines, PhilFoodex (Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization Inc.) proudly returned to Thaifex-Anuga for the eighth year as the exclusive country pavilion host.
Meanwhile, a Philippine Coconut Pavilion was also mounted, what with the country's position as the world's second-largest producer and leading exporter of coconut products. Featured here were export-quality coconut oil, coco sugar, desiccated coconut and coconut chips, among many other amazing coconut products.
Activities by design
Thaifex-Anuga Asia successfully featured 11 signature trade shows, six special shows, and three supporting programs. These were designed to spotlight the emerging trends, innovative blueprints, bold ideas and cutting-edge solutions shaping the F&B industry today.
The signature trade shows highlighted coffee and tea, drinks, fine food, food service, food technology, frozen food, fruits and vegetables, meat, rice, sweets, confectionery and seafood.
The supporting programs featured the Future Food Experience+ segment, which spotlighted next-generation food and beverage innovations, featuring 33 speakers from around the world. The sessions provided valuable insights, trends and breakthroughs determined to shape the industry's future, specifically the food trends for 2023 to 2025 and how protein will be used.
Another program was the Xperiential Zone, which served as the trade show's primer to the first Thaifex-Horeca Asia in March 2024. Previewed was a comprehensive range of innovative solutions spanning nine major segments: bakery and ice cream, café and bar, cleaning and laundry, dining, furnishing, kitchen, services, tech, and wellness.
Lastly, the event kicked off the Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge (TUCC) 2023. Regarded as one of Asia's most esteemed culinary contests, TUCC brought together professional and aspiring chefs from nine countries to compete in 21 categories, including Best Ultimate Establishment, Best Ultimate Asian Gourmet Challenge, Best Ultimate Asian Chef, Best Ultimate Professional Chef and Best Ultimate Junior Chef Award.
Participating in climate neutrality
Meanwhile, with the United Nations setting a goal for climate neutrality by 2035, Thaifex-Anuga Asia is also taking steps to become carbon neutral.
During the interview, Kuepper said, “This is a journey that requires decisive steps along the way. As you can see, this year, we have made changes such as eliminating carpets and constructing fewer custom-built buildings. We are embracing digital alternatives, making the most of digital screens, and adopting sustainable practices whenever possible. These are the initial measures we are taking toward our long-term objective of achieving a full set of sustainability goals by 2035.
“Furthermore, we actively involve our exhibitors in this journey and encourage them to do their part. Acknowledging that this is just the beginning of our sustainability journey is important. Over the next few years, we anticipate making more significant strides in this direction. We are committed to continuously improving our practices and collaborating with exhibitors, partners, and stakeholders to create a more sustainable and environmentally conscious trade show experience,” he added.
Lastly, when asked about the future of the F&B industry, Kuepper noted, “The food industry has shown resilience during times of crisis because everyone needs to eat. Overall, the industry has been less affected compared to some other sectors. We are witnessing changes and emerging trends in the industry, with a growing emphasis on health and nutrition. Consumers now seek not only taste but also the nutritional value of the food they consume.
“Additionally, there is a rising demand for functional foods that cater to specific needs such as anti-aging or promoting overall well-being. These trends are shaping the industry and influencing its direction.”
Nevertheless, Kuepper assured, “Despite these changes, the food industry continues to experience strong growth, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. Perhaps you have specific figures, but substantial growth has reached 1 billion from the previous 5 million. This growth reflects the region's robust market potential. So globally, the food industry is on an upward trajectory.”
The 20th edition of Thaifex-Anuga Asia will return to Impact in Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, from May 28 to June 1, 2024.
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Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
