Retail News CRM

Category: Food

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Food and Food & Beverage news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Starbucks Korea hosted 2nd annual Barista Championship for Partners with Disabilities

    Starbucks Korea hosted 2nd annual Barista Championship for Partners with Disabilities

    Learning that she was the winner of Starbucks Korea’s Barista Championship for Partners with Disabilities was a surprise for Banny M.H. Choi.

    “When I found out about this championship, I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but I decided to challenge myself,” said Choi, who has a hearing loss. “When they announced that I was the winner I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t expect to earn first prize because I was so nervous.”

    Excelling in the competition was a source of pride for Choi.

    “I have always tried my best to eliminate prejudice about the disabled,” Choi said. “After winning this competition, I am confident that I can do anything regardless of my disability.”

    Starbucks Korea hosted the championship for the second consecutive year, as a way to recognize partners (employees) with disabilities. Choi and the remaining nine finalists were selected to participate based on recommendations from their district managers.

    During the competition, they were judged by three partners from the Starbucks Coffee Leadership and Operations Service Team on beverage quality, speed of service, cleanliness and latte art. As the victor, Choi received a trophy and a Starbucks Card loaded with 100,000 Korean Won (approximately USD$90.00).

    “We take pride in the fact that Starbucks is a welcoming workplace for everyone,” said S.K. Lee, president, Starbucks Coffee Korea. “We hope to demonstrate the talents of all our baristas and change perceptions about the abilities of people with disabilities.”

    The company’s effort to hire and train people with disabilities has not gone unnoticed. In April, Starbucks Korea received the presidential award from the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

    “This year’s finalists had very impressive skills, which made it difficult to select one winner,” said Lee. “Next year, we will offer a competition in each market in the China and Asia Pacific region to recognize more of our partners.”

     

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  • Jamba Juice Opens First Location in Indonesia

    Jamba Juice Opens First Location in Indonesia

    Jamba Juice Company, a leading lifestyle brand with a passion for making healthful living fun, announced today that the Panen Lestari Internusa (“PLI”) group has opened the first Jamba Juice location in Indonesia. The store is located in the popular Central Park Mall, in Jakarta. PLI is a subsidiary of Mitra Adiperkasa (“MAP”), the largest retailer in Indonesia, with more than 1,800 retail outlets, a portfolio of 150 brands, and over 22,000 employees.

    The Jakarta store brings the total number of Jamba locations to 886 stores globally.

    “We are excited to introduce the Jamba Juice brand in Indonesia,” said Agus Gozali, Managing Director of PT, PLI. “Their menu of local fruit-based products are aligned with our consumers’ needs. Central Park Mall is one of the largest premium lifestyle malls in Indonesia and by adding a lifestyle brand like Jamba Juice to the mall we will ensure consumers have access to menu offerings that are both fit and fun. The Jamba store will be located at one of the mall’s major entrances, making it highly convenient for mall guests.”

    In addition to Jamba’s top selling products like Strawberries Wild® and Banana Berry™, the Indonesian menu will include several local products featuring popular Indonesian fruits, including guava and dragon fruit.

    “The launch of our first Indonesian location is significant for the Jamba brand and business. We continue to see demand for our hand-made, premium products across the globe,” noted Arnaud Joliff, Senior Vice President, Chief Systems Officer and GM International at Jamba Juice. “We are very fortunate to be represented in Indonesia by such a knowledgeable, passionate and well-established partner as PLI. We look forward to many years of partnership as we build the Jamba Juice brand in Indonesia.”

    Jamba Juice is currently awarding franchise opportunities in other select markets around the globe. For more information, please visit www.jambafranchise.com.

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  • Korean department stores trigger restaurant battle

    Korean department stores trigger restaurant battle

    Korean department stores have become the new battleground for Korean restaurant chains.

    Restaurants have long been a lucrative business for department store operators – accommodating hundreds of weary shoppers every day, they have sometimes been referred to as a ‘goose that lays a golden egg’.

    However, until now, opening such a restaurant had been a near-impossible task without deep connections to the store’s higher-ups.

    According to retail industry sources, several new restaurants are set to open next month in the food court section of Lotte’s flagship department store in Myeongdong, which is currently being renovated. Of note, the new owners didn’t have to lobby Lotte management or be a member of a Lotte family to open their establishments.

    Lotte faced significant criticism in June when the media spotlighted Seo Mi-kyung, Lotte founder Shin Kyuk Ho’s third wife, and her company Yuki Co, which operates a bibimbap restaurant (Yukyung),  naengmyeon restaurant (Yuwonjeong) and coffeehouse (Margaret) at the Lotte’s Myeongdong store.

    “We’re in the middle of clearing up our business with Seo’s company,” said the department store official. “We plan to operate our food court based on the popularity of restaurants and their competitive advantage.”

    A high-end sushi restaurant, Sushi Chohi, Chinese restaurant Luii, and European casual restaurant Elbon Grand Cafe operated by chef Choi Hyun-seok are among the new eateries that will open in mid-September.

    Hyundai Department Store, once criticised for giving favors to its subsidiary Hyundai Green Food, is also rearranging the food courts at its stores to accommodate popular restaurants from across Korea. And although it still operates Hyundai Green Food-owned restaurants like Bonga Sushi and Hansol Naengmyeon at its branches, it’s now focusing its efforts on attracting other popular restaurants.

    “Bonga Sushi and Hansol Naengmyeon have made a name for themselves, and their inclusion is not necessarily due to the Hyundai family relationship,” said a Hyundai Department Store official. “We’re concentrating more on attracting well-known restaurants to our food courts, because restaurants with no competitive edge aren’t likely to survive.”

    Italian restaurants Le Jiu and Signature Lab opened their latest locations at the Samseong-dong branch, while Amorino, an Italian gelato franchise, opened a new eatery at Hyundai’s Apgujeong branch.

    Shinsegae Department Store also introduced new restaurants this year. Youth-driven restaurants from Gangnam and Hongdae, including Chinese cuisine franchise Choma, steakhouse restaurant Fukuoka Hambageu, and premium tteokbokki restaurant Villa de Spicy, according to Shinsegae, were met with high acclaim.

    Shinsegae also said that new restaurants tend to attract more customers to its stores.

    “Department stores are no longer solely a place for shopping. They’re transforming into one integrated living space for consumers to spend their free time,” said a retail industry official. “Given the circumstances, the stores will continue with their efforts to accommodate more popular and competitive restaurants.”

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  • Uber Japan about to launch UberEats

    Uber Japan about to launch UberEats

    Uber Japan is about to launch UberEats, with advertisements for bicycle and motorcycle delivery positions appearing on its Japan Facebook page last week, as well as a related video.

    An UberEats Japan website is already up, but only with a link for Tokyo restaurants to register.
    Launched in March, UberEats is available in 28 cities internationally.

    Generally, Uber has struggled in Japan, reports Tech in Asia. As regulations prevent drivers from accepting money from passengers in a private vehicle, Uber works more like a taxi. Its trial program in Fukuoka last year was shut down for paying drivers, and protests from taxi companies have prevented similar trials in other regions. There was also backlash from the taxi industry when Toyota invested in Uber this year.

    However, non-professional drivers can accept payments in areas where public transport is not available. Uber took advantage of this by launching a service with a non-profit organisation in Kyotango city.

  • Surplus predicted in Indonesia`s rice supply

    Surplus predicted in Indonesia`s rice supply

    The agriculture ministry said the country is expected to have a surplus of 11.38 million tons in supply of milled rice by the end of this year.

    Chief spokesman of the ministry Agung Hendriadi said rice supply is estimated to reach 43.69 million tons as against requirement of 32.3 million tons this year.

    “A surplus , therefore, is expected to reach 11.38 million tons, even there would be an excess of 20 million tons in supply on stocks including early year stock and Bulog stocks and harvest 8.8 million tons,” Agung said.

    Similarly excesses are also estimated in the supply of other foodstuff including 2.1 million tons of corn grains, 339,400 tons of sugar, 18.5 million tons of cooking oil, 131,800 tons of red onion, 414,400 tons of chili, 1.59 million tons of chicken meat and 1.44 million tons of eggs.

    Meanwhile, deficit is expected in the supply of beef and soybeans.

    Deficit in beef supply is estimated to reach 220,000 tons with supply totaling 441,8000 tons as against consumption of 662,300 tons, and deficit in soybean is around 1.09 million tons with supply totaling only 1.5 million tons as against consumption of 2.59 million tons.

    Agung, however, said in general supply of the 11 strategic commodities is relatively safe until the end of the year.

    “Deficit would be recorded only in the supply of two commodities until the end of the year,” he said.

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  • Jollibee Hanoi makes it five

    Jollibee Hanoi makes it five

    Jollibee Hanoi has opened its fifth outlet, taking its Vietnam store count to 81.

    “The outlet in To Hieu St in Cau Giay district is a key, strategic location for us to serve customers,” Tran Ngoc Hoai Thuong, PR manager at Jollibee Vietnam, said in an interview.

    jollibee

    Earlier, Jollibee Vietnam announced plans to add 20 outlets in the country every year, and that it would seek partners for further expansion through franchising.

    Jollibee Foods Corp (JFC), Jollibee’s parent company, has reported that its system-wide sales grew by 15.1 per cent in the second quarter compared to sales for the same period of 2015.

    As of June 30, JFC has a 50 per cent  interest in joint ventures with Highlands Coffee (Vietnam, Philippines), Pho 24 (Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea and Australia) and 12 Hotpot (China). It also has a 40 per cent interest in Smashburger that has 366 outlets, mostly in the US.

    JFC was operating 2528 restaurant outlets in the Philippines and more than 600 abroad, according to its latest financial report.

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  • Philippines grocery retail market ‘stands out in Asia’

    Philippines grocery retail market ‘stands out in Asia’

    According to retail analyst IGD, the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing countries in Southeast Asia, with its GDP growth hitting 6.9% in the first quarter of 2016, and further strong expansion predicted on the back of robust domestic consumption, rapid urbanisation and rising wages. A young and increasingly skilled workforce also has a major part to play in the country’s growth.

    The country’s newly elected president, Rodrigo Duterte, is expected to implement further economic reforms and provide a better business environment, through investments in infrastructure and the cutting of red tape.

     

    From these factors, IGD projects that the grocery market, currently worth US$99bn, will see a 10% compound annual growth rate to reach US$157bn by 2020.

    Similar to many developing countries, the Philippine grocery market is dominated by traditional trade. Modern retailing makes up around just 30%.

    Yet the Philippines’ leading retailers have made extraordinary progress in transforming the country’s modern retail landscape. These have strong financial backing and entrepreneurial spirit, says Jenny Li, a senior retail analyst for IGD.

    “SM Retail, Puregold and Robinsons Retail are the top three domestic players in the country. All of them are scaling up their footprints with significant store network expansion and consistent sales growth,” she said.

    SM Retail, for instance, has opened 99 new stores in various formats in the past year; Puregold, with 305 stores across the country, has reported an impressive 20% increase in sales in the first quarter of 2016.

    IGD’s latest report, “Philippines in Focus: Retail Landscape and Channel Outlook”, has identified a number of key trends driving the country’s retail channel development. Among others, building a diversified portfolio strategy has been successful for most leading retailers.

    “Modern retailing in the Philippines started with hypermarkets and supermarkets; increasingly, however, retailers are embracing a multi-format strategy by building their presence in smaller formats and online channels,” said Li.

    Source: IGD

    “This enables them to create differentiated offers to target a broader audience, with unique demographic profiles and different shopping needs. Furthermore, emerging channels, such as convenience stores and e-commerce, are growing faster and are best placed to capitalise on the higher margins of discretionary spend categories.”

    A subsidiary of the pan-Asian retail giant Dairy Farm, Rustan’s Philippines is the leader in premium retailing and is well-established to target upscale shoppers. Over the past few years, the company has been developing Wellcome, which follows a neighbourhood supermarket format and combines daily staple products with competitive pricing.

    Meanwhile, Rustan’s convenience store network, created via a joint-venture with FamilyMart, is gaining popularity among busy office workers.

    “It’s clear that the Philippine retail market presents great opportunities for future growth,” said Li.

    “If you are looking to invest in Asia, or seeking to expand into new markets, the Philippines is one region to consider.”

    However, she warns that success lies in the ability to build a solid understanding of the local market and establish strategic partnerships with local players, as well as provide relevant and flexible solutions to support retailers’ multichannel strategies.

     

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  • Starbucks Asia showcases local art

    Starbucks Asia showcases local art

    Art is playing a major role in the store design of Starbucks Asia.

    Michael Izon, director of store design in Starbucks China/Asia Pacific region, says his team works with artists, who work in a variety of mediums, to enhance stores in the Philippines and Thailand.

    Gaysorn_Starbucks_Thailand_(1)

    “Sometimes we seek the help of companies that represent local artists, while other times we find artists by chance. We once discovered an artist’s work while walking the streets of Hong Kong and asked to commission his work for one of our stores,” Izon said.

    Decisions about artwork occur at the beginning of the store design process.

    “We call our process holistic store design because we don’t want elements like artwork to look additive, we want them integrated in the overall design and become a natural part of the store,” said Izon.

    He added, art in Starbucks stores should be visually pleasing, but also informative in telling the brand’s story.

    One of the artists whom Starbucks was worked with is Ella Hipolito. Known for using coffee grounds to create realistic paintings, Hipolito has created artwork for Starbucks Philippines, including one for the S’Maison Starbucks in Pasay City.

    SMaison_Starbucks_Philippines_(5)

    “We wanted to highlight the work that takes place on Philippine coffee farms. Ella created a huge landscape painting on one of the walls in the store that depicts farmers harvesting coffee cherries,” Izon said.

    In Thailand, as customers enter the Gaysorn Starbucks in Bangkok, they encounter a mural that represents Starbucks’ travel around the world to source coffee. The mural was created in partnership with Jeentee Baiposuwan, a local artist and graduate of Silapakorn University.

    Gaysorn_Starbucks_Thailand_(3)

    Gaysorn_Starbucks_Thailand_(4)

    “Jeentee is a traditional Thai painter and used this style to develop a wonderful piece depicting the Starbucks Siren and the beginning of the Starbucks coffee journey,” said Izon.

    Smaller landscape paintings featured throughout the store share the story of single origin coffees and farmers.

    “Gaysorn is a premium mall, so the store has a luxurious look to it and the artwork reflects that as well,” added Izon.

    Gaysorn_Starbucks_Thailand_(2)

    When Izon and team received the design brief for the Siam Discovery store in Bangkok, the vision was to showcase Starbucks global social responsibility efforts in addition to highlighting coffee.

    Siam_Discovery_Starbucks_Thailand_(2)

    In the seating area of the store is Jeentee Baiposuwan’s large wire-art installation depicting 12 of Starbucks social impact initiatives.

    “There’s a lot of satisfaction knowing that what we design on paper for several months, will engage customers for many years,” said Izon.

  • Sales ease for Big C Thailand

    Sales ease for Big C Thailand

    A strong profit margin has helped Big C Supercenter weather a slight decline in sales for its second quarter.

    The Big C Thailand operator says “lukewarm economic conditions” continued, with the tourism sector and government spending continuing to act as the main drivers for the economy.

    “Some signs of improving agricultural prices and less severe drought conditions were seen during the quarter, but this has not yet translated into improved consumer confidence,” the company said in a stock exchange filing.

    During the quarter the company introduced a fundamental change in the way it trades. “We shifted our focus to the quality of sales rather than just the absolute sales amount,” says its report.

    “This does not mean we are neglecting our price position among retail customers; rather, we are limiting the number of ‘big-basket coupons’ we have previously used when targeting professional customers.

    “In order to be able to better answer to our customers’ local tastes and preferences, we started to reorganise and decentralise our store operations teams.

    “The work to capture synergies between the company and the BJC group, our new major shareholder, has also started.” For example, the company has been using combined volumes when re-negotiating with suppliers.

    More stores

    During the quarter, the group’s store network continued to grow across formats. A hypermarket opened in Ranong, Big C Markets opened in Pakthongchai and Somdet, 11 Mini Big C stores opened, including three at gasoline stations plus three franchise stores, and two Pure Drugstores. This brought the store total at the end of June to 126 large-format stores (Big C Supercenter, Extra and Jumbo), 57 Big C Markets, 408 Mini Big Cs (including 167 in gas stations and six franchise stores) and 149 Pure Drugstores.

    Big C’s total revenues from retail sales, rental and service income, and other income, reached baht 33,796 million (US$975.36 million) for the quarter, representing a 1.1 per cent decline of Baht 362 million compared with the same period last year.

    This decrease was driven by a 1.5 per cent retail sales decline.

    The group’s dual retail-property model continued its steady performance with rental income for the year increasing by 3 per cent.

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  • Google India delivers for food fans

    Google India delivers for food fans

    Working with local partners, Google India has made online ordering and restaurant bookings easy.

    When people use their phones to search Google for nearby restaurants, the search results offer an option to “place an order”.

    By tapping the option, users can choose a delivery service and be taken to its website to complete their order. Users can also make a one-click reservation if they prefer to visit the restaurant.

    Google has partnered with startups Swiggy and Zomato for food delivery, and Bytplus and Dineout for reservations. The services can be used on Google Search and the Google app for both Android and iOS devices.

    “These features are just rolling out and we’ll be adding more partners and evolving the look and feel over time,” Google says in an official blog.

    Earlier, Google Maps stitched in Ola and Uber services on its platform in India, showing fares and riding options from the app-based taxi aggregators.

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  • Chooks to Go plans Asian rollout

    Chooks to Go plans Asian rollout

    The parent of Philippine chicken retailer Chooks to Go plans “a massive expansion” of its store network, at home and across Asia.

    “Filipinos overseas will soon have access to their favourite food in the Philippines or wherever they are in the Asian region with the rollout of BAVI rotisserie stores overseas this year,” said Chooks to Go parent Bounty Agro Ventures Inc (BAVI) in a statement.

    “As an industry leader, it is BAVI’s role to continue to growing its chicken commodity business, along with the massive expansion of its various brands of retail stores for freshly cooked products.”

    BAVI currently operates a chain of 1000 Chooks to Go stores across the Philippines, selling fresh oven-roasted chickens and is expanding its portfolio of brands to attract more consumers. Maro, its newest, serves freshly cooked viands in CBDs and universities nationwide.

    The company’s Reyal brand, which launched last year selling ‘butterfly cut’ chicken with honey garlic sauce, chili oil and garlic bits, expects to have 100 stores trading by the end of this year.

    Uling Roasters now has 200 outlets.

    In total, BAVI now operates more than 1300 stores across its brands, and sells about 100,000 chickens a day.

    The company did not reveal how it would enter overseas markets, or which countries were at the top of the priority list.

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  • Japanese restaurant operator AP heads to Hawaii

    Japanese restaurant operator AP heads to Hawaii

    Japanese restaurant operator AP Co is heading to Hawaii, planning to open its first outlets in January.

    AP owns more than 200 restaurants in Japan, Singapore and California and plans to take its  Tsukada Nojo and Sushi Maru brands to Waikiki, in the heart of Honolulu’s tourist area.

    The two eateries are an izakaya-style concept, serving small dishes and liquor, and a sushi restaurant, respectively.

    AP entered the restaurant business to create an outlet for produce from its farms and fisheries.

    “They are pursuing the same concept here by working with local farmers now in preparation for their opening next year,” a real estate source told Pacific Business News in an interview.

    The company is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange.

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  • Jamie’s Italian Opens First Restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian Opens First Restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian, a partnership between British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, continues its expansion across southeast Asia with its first restaurant in Thailand, set to launch in Bangkok in the fourth quarter of this year.
    The family ­friendly Italian restaurant will open its doors at the newly­renovated Siam Discovery mall, situated in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping district and proudly brought to you by Hotel Properties Limited and Siam Piwat. Guests can expect Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery to offer delicious, homely Italian cooking with a Jamie twist.

    Living up to the restaurant chain’s philosophy of serving amazing, affordable food in a casual setting, the latest Jamie’s Italian restaurant will embody a relaxed, buzzy vibe for a comfortable dining experience.

    10 Interior at Jamie's Italian restaurant

    The space will boast a tasteful mix of rustic, reclaimed timber refectory tables, industrial­chic zinc tables and vintage upholstered lounge chairs, with monochromatic and hand­painted floral tile flooring adding graphic impact to the restaurant interior. To add warmth, the dining area will be illuminated with brass spotlights, vintage enamel shades and a textured glass chandelier.

    Guests will be able to watch their antipasti planks being made before their eyes at the antipasti counter in the main dining room, or hang out for a pre and post meal tipple at the bar.

    Jamie’s Italian is all about fun, accessible dining. Menu highlights at Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery will include the famous antipasti planks, perfect for sharing. Placed on large wooden boards supported by tins of tomatoes, the impressive platter allows guests to pick

    from a wide selection of fresh, cured and pickled antipasti, including Italian­style cured meats, buffalo mozzarella and aged pecorino cheese, chilli jam, pickled green chillies, Gaeta olives, caper berries and a crunchy salad of shaved root vegetables with chilli, lemon and mint.

    All pastas will be freshly made on­site daily. The old­school classic, Tagliatelle Bolognese, features handmade pasta, tossed in a rich ragu of beef, pork, herbs, Chianti and Parmesan and finished with crunchy, herby breadcrumbs. Our famous prawn linguine is a must try ­ juicy, garlicky prawns in a tasty fish broth with fennel, tomato and chili, topped with lemony rocket. Pizza dough will all be made by hand, and proved for hours before being hand­stretched to create an irresistibly crisp base. The simple but classic Margherita, dressed with a rich San Marzano tomato sauce, creamy bocconcini, shavings of British Cheddar and whole basil leaves, is the perfect choice for pizza purists, while the Funghi Misti is an earthy delight topped with porcini mushroom sauce, roasted herby mushrooms, mozzarella, chervil and tarragon.

    For meaty mains, guests will be able to opt for a Chicken Al Mattone, a traditional Tuscan dish that is made by grilling a marinated chicken under a brick. The weight of the brick ensures that the chicken is pushed further against the grates of the grill, producing a smoky, juicy and intensely­flavoured grilled chicken with an addictively crisp skin.

    As with all Jamie’s Italian outlets, the Siam Discovery restaurant will remain committed to sourcing only the best free­range, sustainable and ethically produced ingredients. The restaurant will also work closely with Thai farmers to showcase local, sustainable produce at its Bangkok branch.

    Jamie said: “I’m hugely excited to be taking Jamie’s Italian to Thailand. Bangkok is such a vibrant, buzzing city with a really fantastic food scene, I’ve no doubt that it will be a brilliant addition to
    the Jamie’s Italian family. We’ll be sourcing lots of beautiful, top­quality local produce, and cooking up some incredibly tasty food, and all at a reasonable price. I can’t wait for it to open”.

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  • Twinings enters Myanmar

    Twinings enters Myanmar

    Stephen Twining, a member of the 10th generation of the family that has churned out the premium tea for 310 years, was at the official launch in Myanmar on August 5. He said Myanmar offered a opportunity for high growth, with a large tea-drinking population.

    “Tea is well-loved in Myanmar, so it makes absolute sense for Twinings to be here. I am delighted to experience Myanmar’s unique culture and our shared passion for tea,” he said.

    “Twinings never accepts anything less than perfect. Today, Twinings tea is enjoyed by millions in 116 countries worldwide, including Myanmar.”

    Five labels will be available in the market – Earl Grey, English breakfast, jasmine green tea, pure camomile and pure peppermint.

    Market research was conducted before the official launch and the company decided to award the distribution rights to AB Food |& Beverages and Premium Distribution. The products are now available in supermarkets and gourmet stores in major cities and destinations including Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Bagan, Taunggyi, Inle, Ngapali and Mawlamyaing – major destinations for both local and foreign tourists.

    Twining believes that the demand for high-quality tea will rise as the country opens up.

    “We certainly see good prospects here in Myanmar. We will be targeting top hotels. I know Myanmar received nearly 5 million tourists last year. That is also expected to grow a great deal in the coming years. And we will also be looking to partner with supermarkets,” he said.

    Twining said the company would focus on maintaining quality rather than thinking about competition. He believes in taking early-bird advantages.

    “I think we are the first premium fine-quality tea company here. And we will continue to actively promote ourselves. We are working with our retail partners to reach everywhere” in Myanmar, he said.

    Twinings will open a tea parlour in Myanmar in the years to come, as it did in Bangkok.

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  • HKTDC Food Expo, Tea Fair & Home Delights Expo Open

    HKTDC Food Expo, Tea Fair & Home Delights Expo Open

    Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), four concurrent fairs opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC); the 27th Food Expo, the eighth Hong Kong International Tea Fair, the third Home Delights Expo and the inaugural Beauty & Wellness Expo. Together, the fairs gather more than 1,800 exhibitors from around the world, bringing high-quality products and lifestyle solutions to consumers and trade buyers. The two-day International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM), which is jointly organised with the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association Ltd. (MCMIA), also opened today.

    “These concurrent events spotlight Hong Kong’s reputation as a business hub and lifestyle trendsetter in Asia. Together, they welcome a total of more than 1,800 exhibitors from around the world – each striving to help consumers enjoy a better and healthier lifestyle,” said Margaret Fong, Executive Director, HKTDC. “Now in its 27th year, the Food Expo presents a feast of business opportunities with a record of nearly 1,400 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions taking part. We expect to welcome some 20,000 trade buyers from around the world to the fair this year. Here, they can find trendy and quality products, gather the latest market intelligence and expand their business networks – all under one very large roof!”

    More than 100 buying missions from over 20 countries and regions will visit the Food Expo and Tea Fair this year, to source top-quality products and discover new business opportunities. A selection of local retailers and agents, including 759 Store, Sun Wah Japanese Food Ltd, Cafe Deco Group and DCH Logistics Co Ltd have set up buyers’ booths at the fairground for pre-arranged business matching meetings with exhibitors. This gives exhibitors the chance to connect with high-quality buyers and increase product exposure, while buyers are able to source products more efficiently.

    Foodies paradise spotlights international and green cuisine

    The Food Expo welcomes nearly 1,400 exhibitors and features delicacies from 26 countries and regions, including those of first-time participants from Croatia, Finland and Iceland. The Expo comprises three dedicated areas including Trade Hall, Gourmet Zone and Public Hall.

    Open to public ticket-holders until 14 August, the Gourmet Zone at Hall 3B spotlights flavours from around the globe. More than 70 exhibitors are presenting Asian and Western quality food products and specialty desserts. Responding to the increasing demand for healthy eating, this year the zone adopts a new “Green Palate” theme to place stronger focus on organic and green food.

    The Trade Hall is designed to serve up business opportunities for industry players. Among the thematic zones are the Halal Food Zone, which made a successful debut at the fair last year, and the new Chinese Medicine Zone held in association with the ICMCM. The Trade Hall is open to industry representatives on 11 and 12 August, before opening its doors to public ticket-holders as well on its last day (13 August).

    The Premium Food Zone is the highlight of the Public Hall at Hall 1A-E, featuring more than 30 famous food and beverage brands, including Kee Wah Bakery, On Kee Dry Seafood, Tai Pan, Maxim’s Caterers, Nissin and Tung Chun. Group pavilions from Canada, the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea and the Philippines are also set up at the Public Hall to offer international culinary sensations.

    During the fair, a series of events including cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs such as Michelin 3-star chef Alvin Leung, Esther Au who is known as the “Truffle Queen” and also the owner of Dolce Dolce Kitchen & Gourmet, Gabriel Choy who is Topgrade (Holding) Limited Executive Chef and Advisor, and Sze Chiu Kwan, Head Chef of Dong Lai Shun at The Royal Garden. Other events include sharing sessions by famous food critics, the launch of the 2016-2017 Wan Chai a La Carte food map, La Commanderie des Cordons Bleus de France and GHM Recommendation Restaurant Award Ceremony 2016, Q-Mark Selfie – Food Styling Competition with TV Stars, as well as seminars on “Hong Kong Green Purchasing – Food and Beverage Sector” and “Explore the Latest Trend in Food Sustainability”.

    Homemaking expo delights visitors

    Since its launch in 2014, the Home Delights Expo has enjoyed growing popularity. This year, the fair features 150 exhibitors showcasing innovative home appliances and kitchen utensils as well as kitchenware, tableware, household items and home security devices. The Avenue of Delights features about 40 exhibitors presenting a range of premium lifestyle brands such as CLP, Dyson, German Pool, Kenwood, Ladyship, OGAWA, OTO, Philips, STAUB, Towngas, WMF and ZWILLING J.A. Henckels.

    At Hall 3FG, visitors can bid for selected household appliances and products at crowd-pleasing Smart Bidding events. Other activities include lucky draws, product demonstrations, sharing health tips and cooking demonstrations by Cloudland Chinese Cuisine Executive Chef Paul Wong, Lai Sun F&B Management Group Executive Chef (Chinese Division) Albert Au, Media Chef Christy Lai of Zhu Fan Zai, and registered dietitian and author Gloria Tsang.

    Looking good & feeling great are key to quality lifestyle

    With demand for beauty and wellness-related products on the rise, the HKTDC has launched its brand new Beauty & Wellness Expo this year, gathering more than 60 exhibitors from across Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan. A wide range of cosmetics, skincare, hair care and massage products, nail polish and fitness equipment is on show during the fair.

    Standout displays include a skincare product line using Tibetan water collected from an altitude of 5,100 metres, a smart abs toning belt, a series of Taiwanese protective lotions with added hyaluronic acid that is new to the Hong Kong market and easy-to-use nail polish appliques from the US.

    During the fair, well-known beauty blogger Yoko Tsang and Chinese Medicine practitioner Roy Tsui are sharing tips on beauty trends and how to lead a healthy life. Other must-see events include make-up, hairstyle and nail-art demonstrations that are sure to wow fair visitors.

    Tea fair presents global business platform

    The Hong Kong International Tea Fair gathers more than 240 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the US to present high-quality tea and related products. The three-day fair is open exclusively to trade buyers on 11 and 12 August and also welcomes public ticket-holders on 13 August.

    An array of exquisite teas is being showcased during the fair, including one of the classics in pu’er tea “88 Yunnan Pu’er Cake”, pu’er tea powder made with tea leaves from aged arbor tea trees that are over 500 years old, as well as French dessert tea that combines organic tea and dried fruits. Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has returned this year with a group pavilion featuring 16 exhibitors including companies from green tea producing areas such as Kyushu and Kagoshima. The fair also presents a wide range of tea ware to promote tea culture.

    This year, the International Tea Competition continues to attract elite exhibiting brands, with a panel of professional judges reviewing the entries through blind tasting. Other special events include international tea tasting sessions, international cup warming, international tea arts performances and a seminar on marketing in the digital age.

    Public ticket-holders are welcome to visit on the last day of the fair (13 August), when experts will share tea therapy insights, explore tea appreciation techniques and analyse Pu’er tea and cheese pairing. Another spotlight event of the fair is the International KamCha Competition 2016 (Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea). The International Final will also be held on 13 August. Regional champions from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Melbourne and Toronto will compete for the title. The Final for Yuanyang will also be held on the same day.

    Traditional Chinese Medicine opportunities under the microscope

    The ICMCM takes place today and tomorrow with 18 prominent speakers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Chinese mainland, Macau and Hong Kong, sharing their views on the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, the quality of herbal products in Europe, the globalisation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, regulations and registration strategies for Chinese herbal health food, as well as the latest research and development findings. The ICMCM is an ideal platform for industry players to exchange ideas on the development of Chinese medicine.

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