The 14th edition of Thaifex-World of Food Asia was jointly organised by Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), and the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). Over the span of five days, the event was attended by 43,129 Thai visitors and 11,982 international visitors, all comprising key decision makers and buyers in the food and beverage (F&B) trade. They were not only treated to a wide array of food products and technologies, but also access to insights that could help extend their businesses throughout ASEAN and beyond. Committed to providing a truly global experience for everyone, the trade show saw the number of international exhibitors grow by 14 per cent, with representatives from countries such as Scotland, the USA, Australia, Poland, Japan, Turkey, and Vietnam. This is the first time the absolute number of international exhibitors matched that of Thai exhibitors, indicative of a powerful show for the region and beyond. Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director, Koelnmesse, organiser for Thaifex-World of Food Asia 2017, said, “The record-breaking number of visitors is testament to the fact that the F&B industry continues to see the trade show as the place to be. This year’s show proved to be more than just a platform for networking between buyers and exhibitors, but also an avenue for everyone to collaborate, share thoughts, and exchange knowledge about issues facing the industry.” For the first time this year, an exclusive group of Asian top buyers were also hosted on-site for one-on-one business matching and networking. Said Simon Chuen, Director and General Manager of Dah Chong Hong Holdings, “We’re thrilled to be part of the exclusive group of hosted buyers. Many valuable connections were established and we are confident that they will help us in generating successful business deals post-show. The varied profile of exhibitors that we met certainly expanded our horizons as we were not aware of some of the products prior to attending Thaifex-World of Food Asia. It was indeed an enriching and engaging show for us.” The third annual Celebrity Coffee Bar, jointly organised by Koelnmesse, ASEAN Coffee Federation and Singapore Coffee Association, welcomed 15 champion baristas from around the world, where they showcased their skills in latte art and coffee brewing. On top of that, espresso and brew tasting sessions were held and masterclasses conducted onsite for budding coffee connoisseurs, offering tips on how to create the perfect brew. “I was delighted to share my love of coffee at the Celebrity Coffee Bar. It gave me the perfect platform to invite people to explore Starbucks Reserve, our line of rare, small lot coffees from around the world and try different brewing techniques. Having skilled baristas at the bar helped to raise awareness of the true craft and professionalism that goes into serving coffee,” said Ryan Wibawa, Starbucks barista and 2015 Champion of the Indonesian Brewers Cup. The next edition of Thaifex–World of Food Asia 2018 will be held from 29 May – 2 June, 2018.
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