Food, Drink, Health the Focus at Three Trade Fairs
11 August 2011 – Some 1,340 exhibitors are showcasing a wide range of gourmet and health foods, along with tea and products and services related to traditional Chinese medicine at three fairs which opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).The HKTDC Food Expo 2011 and the International Conference & Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM) both run until 15 August, while the Hong Kong International Tea Fair continues through 13 August.
Aroma Street
The 22nd edition of the Food Expo, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), features a new Gourmet Zone. More than 40 exhibitors are on hand offering products organised under the themes Sweet Delight, LOHAS, European Delicacies and Fine Dining. Noted local chefs are also holding cooking demonstrations at the fair.
The expo also features Aroma Street, organised by Hong Kong’s Coffee DeAmour, where baristas are working with a variety of coffee beans and machines and serving up the results for fairgoers. Blind tasting sessions of the luxury Kopi Luwak coffee will take place there, 12-14 August. This evening through 14 August, a Night Bazaar (7pm-10pm) will feature more than 60 exhibitors offering items discounted by at least 50 per cent.
Welcoming nearly 900 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, Food Expo offers a full menu of cooking demonstrations and workshops, while buyers at the Trade Hall can savour a wide selection of products from around the world. Another highlight is the Premium Food Zone for brand products, which spotlights nearly 40 brands.
Global Tastes
Food Expo features 27 group pavilions from six countries and regions. More than 160 Japanese exhibitors, the largest Japanese participation ever at Food Expo, are located in the Grand Hall. Japanese food promotion programmes and events are being presented by the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong, Japan External Trade Organization, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Hong Kong Food Council.
The Chinese mainland, Iran, Korea, Mexico and the Philippines are also presenting pavilions at the fair. The Trade Hall will be open exclusively to trade visitors for the first two days. It will open to the public on the third day, allowing companies to reach consumers, building brand awareness and gathering feedback about their latest food offerings.
Tea-Trading Hub The Hong Kong International Tea Fair is heating up the city’s reputation as a premier tea-trading hub. Now in its third year, and organised by the HKTDC and the Chinese Tea Culture International Exchange Association, the fair is open to traders only for the first two days, welcoming public visitors on its final day.
This year’s tea fair counts more than 310 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions, including major tea-producing regions from the mainland as well as India, Japan and Sri Lanka. South Africa and the United Kingdom are participating for the first time. The fair also features the new Branding and Design Services zone. Exhibitors include Hong Kong designers Alan Chan, Angus Wong, Charles Ng, Francis Lee, Kan Tai Keung and Tommy Li. Four of them will speak at a Symposium on Successful Tea Branding and Packaging.
Conferences and Competitions
The International Tea Industry Conference, to be held later today, will include representatives from the United Kingdom’s Twinings and Starbucks’ Tazo Tea from the United States. These and other tea experts will speak on prevailing market trends and brand-building strategies. Forums, tea-tasting sessions and other activities showcasing tea art and culture will also be held throughout the fair.
In addition, exhibitors were invited to compete in the International Tea Competition, and awards will be presented at this evening’s tea reception. The International KamCha Competition 2011 (Hong Kong-style milk tea) Hong Kong Final will be held tomorrow, with the winner competing on Friday against winners from Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Toronto and Melbourne for the international championship. The competition has also launched a new category – Yuanyang, a celebrated local drink created by blending Hong Kong-style milk tea with coffee.
Chinese Medicine
Celebrating its first decade, the ICMCM has attracted close to 140 exhibitors from eight countries and regions. Jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), the event is restricted to trade visitors for its first two days, opening to the public 13-15 August.
The fair is divided into specialised zones, with an educational display organised by the University of Hong Kong. Other highlights include the two-day ICMCM conference, starting today under the theme “Milestones in Chinese Medicine Development,” and featuring a panel of global experts. The International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine takes place today, followed by a public forum, 13-14 August.
