Hong Kong Food Expo 2017, China
As the annual signature summer event, the 28th Hong Kong Food Expo, Home Delights Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Hong Kong International Tea Fair, last from August 17-21 2017, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fairs welcome more than 1,900 exhibitors, showcasing the latest quality food, tea, as well as household, beauty and health products to trade buyers and consumers alike.
The public consumers can enjoy all-around shopping experience in the August fairs. There are also fairs and events targeting at trade buyers and industry players including the Food Expo’s Trade Hall, the International Tea Fair and ICMCM, offering an ideal platform for information exchange and sourcing to create crossover business possibilities.
The HKTDC organised more than 100 buyer missions from 25 countries and regions to visit the Food Expo and Tea Fair to source products and provide more business opportunities for exhibitors. In addition, a selection of retailers and agents, including 759 Store, Sun Wah Japanese Food Ltd, city’super and China Resources Ng Fung International Distribution, set up buyers’ booths for pre-arranged business-matching meetings with exhibitors.
Exhibitors received a lot of sincere inquiries, purchases and cooperation agency intentions. The Expo provides a good stage to showcase products and raise the profile of regional local flavours, fine food and snacks.
Hong Kong Food Expo 2017
The Food Expo feature close to 1,500 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions, housed in three dedicated areas: the Public Hall, Gourmet Zone and Trade Hall.
Japan is the Partner Country of this year’s Food Expo, bringing 331 Japanese exhibitors from 36 prefectures, including Tokyo, Gifu, Mie, Osaka and Hyogo. An array of Japanese local delicacies and haute cuisine are being featured, such as cereal made from 100 per cent Japanese rice; and a plum vinegar drink from Hyogo Prefecture. There will also be several cooking demonstrations and product introductions to help visitors experience Japanese culinary culture.
The Public Hall gather more than 540 exhibitors. A fair highlight, the Premium Food Zone feature 30 major brands, including Kee Wah Bakery, On Kee Dry Seafood, Tai Pan, Maxim’s Group, Nissin and Vita Green. Hong Kong’s famous century-old sauce brand Yu Kwen Yick will also participate in the expo for the first time.
Specialised products at the expo include Cotton Candy Grapes from California, in the United States; Kitagawa Uji Matcha Ice-cream, a collaboration between Taiwanese green tea brand Tao Ti and Japan’s Kitagawahanbee Syouten; as well as a hand-brewed Jelly Plum Wine from Fukuoka, Japan.
The Public Hall also feature five group pavilions: the Chinese mainland, Canada, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, bringing a sumptuous international gourmet feast.
The Gourmet Zone spotlight delicacies from around the globe under four themes: Asian Cuisine, Western Delicacy, Sweet Delight, and Green Palate. Products include a Himalayan Pink Salt Brick, which can be used to pan-fry or bake food directly over the stove; a 100 per cent plant-based burger patty from the US, and handmade cookies from artist Sharon Chan’s Blesscuit Bakery.
The Trade Hall showcase international flavours from more than 870 exhibitors. Fifteen group pavilions have been organised by Chinese mainland provinces and other countries, including newcomers from Canada, the Czech Republic, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Thailand.
The Hall also feature thematic product zones, including the Halal Food Zone and the Chinese Medicine Zone, organised in association with the ICMCM Conference.
Meanwhile, a number of exciting events take place during the fair period. They include star chef cooking demonstrations featuring 20 celebrity chefs, such as the popular cooking-show hosts Steve Lee and Helen Tam, as well as Chan Hon Cheong, the Chef de Cuisine of the Grand Hyatt Hotel’s One Harbour Road. Several star chefs demonstrate “less salt, less sugar yet delicious” recipes in cooking demonstrations organised jointly by the HKTDC, the Food and Hygiene Bureau and the Committee on Reduction of Salt and Sugar in Food.
Other events include seminars by famous food critics and industry players on trending issues for the food and beverage industry; the launch of the 2017-2018 Wan Chai a La Carte; and the Q-Mark Creative Chef Championship.
Hong Kong Tea Fair 2017
The 9th edition Hong Kong International Tea Fair, is a premier platform for promoting business in the tea industry. The fair gathering more than 200 exhibitors from different countries and regions, including the Chinese mainland, Japan and Sri Lanka, which are renowned for their quality tea.
Exhibitors present their related tea products, including tea, tea packaging, tea processing equipment and testing services, tea ware, tea craft and tea technology. Visitors can also enjoy tea-food pairing experience at the Friends of Tea zone, where sweets, snacks and biscuits was showcased.
A series of events was held during the fair including the International Tea Competition 2017. Through blind-tasting, a panel of professional judges review the tea entries of different categories including Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea (Orthodox), Black Tea (C.T.C.), Chinese Black Tea and Pu’er Tea. Other events include tea tasting sessions, international cup warming, tea art performances, seminar on marketing strategy and buyers’ forum for the industry players to exchange information.
On the public day (19 August), there was the International KamCha Competition 2017 (Hong Kong Style-Milk Tea) International Final where Hong Kong and regional champions from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Melbourne and Toronto fight for the winning title. The Yuan Yang Final also be staged alongside.
Public ticket-holders can also join a series of Tea Forums delivered by industry experts on topics like tea therapy insights, tea and zen, as well as tea and food pairing.
ICMCM 2017
Organised by the HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association Ltd (MCMIA), the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM) take place on 17 and 18 August to keep practitioners abreast of the latest trends and developments. Heavyweight speakers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Korea and Macau share views on products’ quality control, pharmacology, commercialisation and successful cases sharing.
On 19 August, public ticket-holders can join the Public Forum sessions with professional Chinese medicine practitioners to discuss on various common issues including shoulder and neck pain, gout, adolescent scoliosis, lumbar pain, diabetes, foot and knee joint pain.
HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room.