THAILAND: Thaifex – World of Food Asia serves up an international gastronomical fare

Over 1,000 exhibiting companies from more than 25 countries set to showcase the latest in food and beverage products and services in Southeast Asia’s largest trade fair for the industry

From 25th till 29th May 2011, a smorgasbord of international food and beverage producers, culinary experts as well as leading exporters and buyers will congregate at IMPACT Exhibition Centre, Bangkok, Thailand for Thaifex – World of Food Asia 2011. Over 22,000 attendees, an increase of 2.8 percent from the year before, are expected to enjoy five delectable days of networking and discussions on the latest issues and innovations in the food and beverage business.

Establishing itself as the biggest international marketplace for the food and beverage industry in Southeast Asia, Thaifex – World of Food Asia features more than 1,000 exhibiting companies, with close to half of these from outside Thailand. This year, visitors to the show will be greeted by an international platter of the latest in food processing technology, food and beverage products, catering and hospitality services as well as retail and franchising opportunities offered by more than 25 countries.

A global melting pot

International participation at Thaifex – World of Food Asia 2011 has risen by 15 percent this year, signaling the event’s increasing importance in the global trade. In total, 17 country and provincial groups are featured on the trade floor this year. Spicing up the global offerings at the show are country pavilions from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Netherlands and the United States, among others.

Indonesia will be participating as a country pavilion for the first time this year, with 12 exhibiting companies featuring an array of local inventions including health and organic foods, beverages, seafood, and sweets. The Korean wave is also making its way into Thaifex – World of Food Asia 2011, with South Korea doubling their presence and becoming the biggest country pavilion on the trade floor. South Korea is also represented by provincial groups such as Gangwon-do, Geunsam, Jellanam-do and Seoul Counties.

Treats for all

The mega food and beverage showcase presents the best and latest in food and beverage offerings including dairy, fine food, fresh produce, meat and poultry, health and organics, ready-to-eat as well as sweets and confectionery. Beyond consumer products, ThaiFex – World of Food Asia 2011 also allows industry professionals to keep updated on innovations and best practices in food technology, process and packaging, catering and hospitality services.

This year, the expanded Seafood section, featuring over 100 exhibitors, has become the largest sourcing platform for seafood products in Asia. The ocean of offerings at Thaifex – World of Food Asia 2011 includes a variety of products from fresh, frozen, packaged and processed seafood, as the segment continues to gain popularity among consumers. Sea Value Co., Ltd., owned by the world’s largest seafood producer known as the Rubicon Group, is among the local favorites with their extensive range of tuna and other seafood products while Kowa Foods presents its imported shellfishes, seaweed and Japanese-seasoned food to seafood fans in Asia.

The drinks sections are also of note, bringing together close to 100 exhibitors showcasing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Among the international names are Ace Synergy International Pte Ltd, Singapore; Black Wine, South Korea; Boncafe (Thailand) Ltd, Thailand; East-West International Group Inc, USA; Globe Soft Drinks, Bangladesh; Sumatra Coffee Luwak, Indonesia and Flavor Full Foods Inc, Taiwan.

Modelled after ANUGA in Cologne, Germany, known as the world’s largest food and beverage trade fair, booths at Thaifex – World of Food Asia are laid-out by zones according to specific product categories making it easier for visitors to zoom in on their specific interest.

Tastes of the future

Two supporting events, which were crowd-pleasers at last year’s trade fair, will once again delight attendees at this year’s show. They are:

• Thailand Chefs Competition

This much anticipated culinary competition for local professional chefs, aimed at encouraging innovations in gourmet offerings, will be held over the course of five days at Thaifex – World of Food Asia. The chefs will compete for 13 awards in various contest categories ranging from Western to Thai, Hot Food to Cold Buffet Platters, Pastries to Wedding Cakes and Fruit and Vegetable Carvings to Ice Carvings.

• World of Halal

Following its successful debut in 2010, World of Halal continues to provide a dedicated platform for businesses in the growing Halal trade to connect and expand their networks in the region and around the world. Featuring close to 100 Halal product suppliers and manufacturers, World of Halal will also incorporate a seminar on 26 May 2011, Day Two of Thaifex – World of Food Asia. As the multibillion dollar Halal market continues to grow in prominence, the conference will delve into key issues for players looking to grasp a slice of the pie with topics such as “Marketing Halal Products in Europe” and “Reaching to the New Halal Consumer”.

“Thaifex – World of Food Asia has grown almost two-fold since its inception seven years ago and we are thrilled that today, it has become the premier food and beverage exchange in Southeast Asia. The rising number of international participation is also an affirmation that ThaiFex – World of Food Asia has successfully establish itself as an important platform to connect Asia’s food and beverage players with their counterparts from across the globe. There is untold potential waiting to be reaped from this exhibition and we are confident that Thaifex – World of Food Asia will continue to play an important part in the growth of the food and beverage market in the region and beyond,” said Michael Dreyer, Vice President Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse.

ThaiFex – World of Food Asia will be open to the public on the last two days of the trade fair, from 28 May to 29 May 2011.