NEW IDEAS, CONNECTIONS AND BUSINESS DEALS
The Singapore Expo was an excellent host as various segments in the food and hospitality industry converged at the recently concluded FoodHotelAsia 2014. Considered Asia’s most important trade event, the show spanned across 10 halls covering food ingredients and products, coffee and tea products and equipment, baking, cooking and hygiene equipment alongside hospitality amenities and technology.
As an all-rounded platform for the industry, FHA2014 was also about participation and application of knowledge. It was an important avenue for budding chefs to show their talent and as a ground for personal growth. The FHA Culinary Challenge (FCC) attracted 800 chefs from around the world, competing in the Individual Challenge, Dream Team Challenge and Gourmet Team Challenge. In addition, the National Team Challenge returned to the FCC this year after its four-year cycle. With one hall dedicated to Bakery&Pastry and to unearth more talent, the Asian Pastry Cup was held together with FHA Barista Challenge and the first-ever FHA Latte Art Challenge. The competition floor capped off with RIPE-WSA Cocktail Challenge and WSA Wine Challenge.
Addressing Key Industry Trends
Keeping up-to-date is extremely vital where things are constantly evolving and to provide added value for visitors, the International Conference was in full swing. Experienced speakers spoke on topics such as manpower shortage, managing hotel operations and revenue optimisation strategies; managing F&B operations and food concepts; and latest technologies for the hotel and F&B sectors. Delegates including Service Managers and those in Sales and Marketing found the workshops and seminars to be an immense takeaway in developing and improving their business.
Scaling Greater Heights
A testament that foodservice and hospitality continue to be one of the strongest industries in the world, FHA2014, in its 19th edition set the record for being the first event to fully occupy Singapore’s biggest exhibition venue. A total of 3,213 exhibitors were present and 63 group pavilions attracted almost 65,000 attendees (visitors, exhibiting staff, conference speakers and delegates, judges and competitors) with 43.1% coming from overseas. It was also a balanced equation of quantity and quality as echoed by Mr. Christopher Rees, Senior Trade Commissioner of the Australian Trade Commission, representing exhibitors at the Australian Pavilion, “The established companies had a chance to meet their distributors while the others met good visitors from many countries. They were serious buyers, who knew what they want. Clearly, the show has a regional presence which many exhibitors are happy about.” Coming from United States, Ms Mimi Murphy, Vice-President of Scheidigger Trading Company said the show was an opportunity to meet many of their customers from Southeast Asia and new buyers, and the company was able to introduce new products on a first-hand basis to them.
Fruitful deals were struck such as German company SYS Systemfiltration, the producers of the Vito Oil Filter System and oil tester closing substantial deals. According to Mr Michael Theiss, sales director of SYS Systemfiltration, “People are now not looking for basic technology but innovation and a touch of green for their business.” Looking inward, the exhibitors in the Singapore Pavilion had positive responses said Mr Sunny Koh, Chairman of the Membership & Industry Groups Function Committee of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), “They met good buyers, especially the hosted buyers, and this translated into sales.” This has spurred SMF to book a 1,500sqm space for the next edition.
“FHA has always been professionally organised, with a wide variety of new kitchen technologies available. The show offers a great learning experience for all,” said Franco Ho Swee Fook, Honorary-advisor and Life Member of the Chef Association of Malaysia. This is precisely why he was at the show, to keep abreast and for his entourage of younger chefs, to learn about different equipment available in the market. As for Chris Glaessel, Managing Director of CIR | VIS ( Food & Beverage | Hospitality Consulting ), he finds it to be “an effective platform to reconnect with industry professionals from around the world.” Meanwhile, Deza P. Onesa, Category Manager of Puregold Duty Free, Inc. notes that FHA has a fine selection of food and beverage supplies, and that makes coming down to this show very worthwhile.
The success of FHA2014 has set the stage for higher expectations as FHA2016 returns on 12-15 April 2016.
[box style=”rounded” border=”full”] For more information, visit www.foodnhotelasia.com[/box]
