Global businesses are betting big on Hong Kong’s exhibition economy to boost sales as the city strives to propel economic growth by staging large-scale events.
The 34th Food Expo, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, kicked off on Thursday, showcasing a global array of cuisine. The five-day event came together with other four concurrent events — Beauty and Wellness Expo, Home Delights Expo, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, and Food Expo PRO, jointly attracting about 1,860 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions.
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This year’s food expo introduces four themes. Thursday, for instance, focuses on Chinese mainland food, with more than 1,000 agricultural products from 12 mainland provinces on display. Saturday will highlight Japanese and Korean culture and cuisine, featuring performances like dance, judo and taekwondo, and South Korean chefs showing their kimchi-making skills.
Algernon Yau Ying-wah, secretary for commerce and economic development, emphasized that besides offering a wide range of delicacies, beverages, tea, and lifestyle products for both traders and the public, the event is also a professional business platform.
“The Food Expo PRO enables players in the food and beverage industry to build connections and explore new markets with international buyers and suppliers, further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a global food trading hub,” Yau said in his opening speech.
The convention and exhibition industry has always been “crucial” for Hong Kong’s economy, with the city welcoming 1.3 million overnight MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) visitors last year. The number of exhibitors this year “underscores Hong Kong’s strategic position as a one-stop sourcing platform for traders and the general public”, said Yau.
Given the role of the convention and exhibition industry in enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international trade hub, the government is accelerating the expansion projects of relevant facilities in Wan Chai North and the Airport Island. Yau revealed that upon completion, convention and exhibition space in Hong Kong will increase by more than 40 percent, bringing the total to over 220,000 square meters.
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Exhibitors have rolled out special prices and a wider selection of products specifically for the food expo. Karen Chung, marketing manager at food distributor Ng Fung Hong, said the company will leverage this expo to show cocktails made with Chinese baijiu, so as to introduce the spirit popular among middle-aged people to young consumers.
South Korean agriculture product brand HanYinHong has also made special arrangements for their eighth participation in the event. Executive Director Kang Sung Jun said this year they are focusing on products that are easy to take home, and offering discounts of 20 percent to 30 percent.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, multiple local mooncake brands have set up booths at the expo. “I look forward to the event every year as it provides an opportunity to promote and boost sales, especially since it takes place just around a month before the festival,” said Zoe Yeung, marketing executive of Vast Luck Group, which owns Tai Pan Bread & Cakes Co. Despite being a weekday, the morning saw a decent flow of visitors and sales, Yeung added.
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Visitors are also enthusiastic about attending the expo, as they see it an opportunity to shop for bargains.
Giselle Kwan had already filled two shopping carts and shoulder bags with her purchases by lunchtime. She explained that she had seen various promotional offers on social media and was concerned about potential crowds, so she arrived early. Kwan said she found the food expo attractive because it offers a wider variety of products at lower prices than usual, and noted the event seemed busier than last year.
A customer surnamed Chan, who was waiting for his children to finish shopping, said he comes to the food expo every year, since it has become a tradition for him and his family.
