Shanghai – 12th November 2010, the 14th edition of FHC, China’s global food, wine and hospitality exhibition and most important business event of the year for the retail and hospitality sector, closed today in Shanghai with companies reporting record business contacts and orders. Headlined by the press as the “United Nations of food and wine in China” and the “World Expo of food”, FHC 2010 attracted 1,017 companies from 79 countries and regions. While a record 23,539 buyers, +13% over last year’s show, sourcing food, wine, beverages and hospitality supplies attended the three day trade fair from supermarkets; hospitality sector; contract caterers; airline and cruise industry; importers and distributors from every region of China.

FHC, specializes in bringing international companies to China and connecting them with importers and professionals serving this market.
“This has been a very successful fair for our US companies” commented Keith Schneller, Director, Agricultural Trade Office, Shanghai.

“The annual FHC show is the largest presence of Italian food and wine companies exporting and promoting to the China market” Maurizio Forte, Trade Commissioner, Italian Trade Commission, Shanghai.

“There are 107 importers and distributors exhibiting in FHC in addition to the thousands of visitors. The opportunity to meet these importers on their stands and who are a vital link to the China market has proved invaluable to South American companies” commented Martin Diez, co-ordinator for the Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru pavilions at FHC 2010.

“RT-Mart will have 153 supermarkets in East China by year end. FHC provides a perfect opportunity for our buyers to source a wide range of imported products from all over the world, in Shanghai”. Paul Shyu, Grocery Dept President, RT-Mart.

FHC is not just for international companies exporting to China. As the China market matures and distribution channels develop, FHC has proved popular with international companies who have production facilities in China and are seeking brand-marketing opportunities. Top names at FHC 2010 included Hormel, meats; Twinings of London, tea; Heinz, for sauces; Fonterra, dairy products; McCormick, spices; Carpigiani, Gelato and many more.
“We invited 100 of our distributors from all over China to attend FHC. The show has proved a great platform for brand marketing to our established and many potential distributors in this vast market” Woody Guo, General Manager, China Hormel Foods International Corp.

The organiser of FHC, China International Exhibitions, CIE, reported that Taiwan region had the largest single pavilion of companies at FHC 2010 followed by Spain, Korea and Japan. The biggest growth in participation by region, this year has been from Asian countries. While growth by products has been most significant from coffee companies, which doubled in size this year to occupy 5,000 sqm. Wine, with 150 companies participating from 11 countries, meat and seafood suppliers.

Guaranteeing the right visitors attend FHC, the organisers ran specialist competitions, tutorials and seminars alongside the show for target customers. These included three wine tutorials and a wine challenge for 218 wines, judged by a panel of 17 judges. The panel of judges included Master Sommeliers from Argentina, USA, France, Singapore and UK and the top Chinese sommeliers from hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Three coffee events, including the very popular Ultimate Barista Challenge. Four cooking competitions, where 324 chefs participated, cooking and presenting in 12 categories. A China Pizza championship; Ice Cream University and Olive Oil tasting and display zone. “All these specialist events were oversubscribed, and this confirms the right visitors came to FHC for all these sectors, to attend these activities and to meet with the specialist product suppliers in the show” commented Brendan Jennings, GM for CIE.

Promotion for FHC 2011, from 16-18 November 2011 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre was already well underway before the close of the 2010 show. The show organiser, CIE reports that three new country pavilions have already confirmed to join FHC 2011, in addition to the 22 groups that are already present this year.
“China has now overtaken Japan as the 2nd largest market in the world for hospitality receipts. This fact reflects the scale and potential of this country to import and consume food and beverages in both retail and hospitality sectors on a huge scale. A market, which no food producer worldwide can afford to ignore” commented Joel Haggard, General Manager Asia, US Meat Export Federation.

About the organiser
China International Exhibitions Ltd, a member of the Allworld Exhibitions Alliance has had a fully staffed office in Shanghai since 1994. Its stable of events include industries such as food & beverage; hospitality & retail; packaging; processing; pharmaceutical technology; brewing technology; woodworking technology; furniture manufacturing and accessories; wood & wood products. For more information, please visit www.chinaallworld.com.

For more information, please contact:
 

Ms Margaret Zhang
Marketing Director
China International Exhibitions Ltd
Tel: +86 21 6209 5209 ext 15
Email: margaret@chinaAllworld.com
 

Ms Renee Lu
Communications Manager
China International Exhibitions Ltd
Tel: +86 21 6209 5209 x 26
Email: renee@chinaAllworld.com