MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

World’s Food Industry for Shanghai

SHANGHAI – 23rd October 2007 –The countdown has started for the largest gathering of international food, wine and hospitality suppliers ever to come to China. With only 3 weeks remaining before the start of FHC China 2007 from 14-16 November 2007, Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), Pudong, plans are well advanced to host the record 800 companies from 35 countries that will join this year’s show.

Unusually for trade shows in China and particularly for a food industry event, 98% of all exhibiting companies at FHC China 2007 are international companies or agents representing international companies. The reason for this is simple explains Brendan O’Connell Jennings, General Manager, China International Exhibitions, the event organizers, “FHC China offers a platform or shop window for international companies to present their products to the top end of the Chinese retail and hospitality market”. “This is a trade only, import show where food traders, retail industry buyers, hotel and restaurant sector are guaranteed to find high quality international branded food & beverages, food service equipment and hospitality IT”. “Chinese buyers would normally have to travel outside the country to see such a wide range of products”. “FHC China 2007 allows them to see these companies and their products in Shanghai and over just 3 days”.

Exhibits this year include such a variety of food, beverage and hospitality products said Mr. Jennings. Confectionery for Austria; wines from Australia; hams from Italy; olive oil from Greece; fruits from Taiwan Region; spices from India; teas from Sri Lanka; snacks from Germany; rice from Japan; beef from Canada; potato products from USA, chocolates from Switzerland, naturally fresh foods from New Zealand and so much more. Hospitality products include fine china from United Arab Emirates, IT hardware and soft ware from USA; crystal glasses from France, Sushi machines from Japan; freezer technology from Germany, pizza ovens from Italy. National food specialties and international brands can also be sampled from countries as varied as Belgium, Korea, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico, Ireland, Hungary, Russia and The Netherlands.

Spain, currently celebrating the “Year of Spain in China”, presents the largest pavilion ever to attend a trade fair in Asia with more than 140 exhibitors. “commented Mr. Jorge Dajani, Economic & Commercial Consul of Span in Shanghai. “FHC is a great opportunity for traders and customers in China to get a complete overview of Spanish Cuisine”, he added.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Spain will attend FHC, while on an official trip to China since Spanish food industry is a major sector. The Spanish pavilion includes traditional trade stands for individual companies and a 300 m2 food demonstration area, the Spanish Culinary Space. There, “various activities will take place, such us tasting and seminars of wines and olive oils, foods tasting, the “Wine and Olive Oil Tunnel”, etc..”, explained Dajani. Moreover, renowned Spanish chefs from different regions will perform culinary exhibitions, so “visitors will see the great variety of Spanish gastronomy” said Mr. Dajani.

“As an international trade show our focus is on helping international companies penetrate the China market” said Mr. Jennings. “more than 60 food importers and distributors from all over China actually take their own stands in this show making it possible for considerable inter-trade between exhibitors at the exhibition”. The largest group of food traders represented, are members of the Shanghai Food Import Enterprises Association. Mr. Guan Rong, General Secretary of the association stated that “ we have 20 members exhibiting this year and all are different from the 18 that we brought to the show last year”. “Our reason for changing members every year is to help introduce new importers to the many foreign companies that participate at FHC and increase the possibilities for new business relations and trade between these groups” he said.

Alongside the trade show are a series of professional seminars covering such subjects as: changes in food import regulations, food safety and nutrition; Wine master classes from Australia and New Zealand, and distributor meetings. The China Cuisine Association will host the 4th Western Food Festival at FHC and this will include a cooking competition, Congress on western food at the Olympic Games and the World Expo and meeting of over 200 delegates from 15 provinces of China.

A full listing of exhibitors at FHC China 2007 and their products may be viewed in the Advance Buyers’ Guide on the show web site, www.fhcchina.com. The site also includes a current programme of seminars, competitions and events at FHC. Advance registration to join the seminars is recommended.

FHC China 2007 is open to trade only visitors and buyers are welcomed from food wholesale and retail trade, hotels, restaurants, institutional caterers, importers and distributors.

For more information on FHC China 2007 and its complementary events and for visitors wishing to register in advance of the show please visit www.fhcchina.com.

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: