DTI-CITEM Eyes P10.5B Sales in IFEX Philippines NXTFOOD ASIA

Two hundred two million dollars or more than 10.5 billion pesos worth of export and domestic sales are expected to be generated by around 657 local and international food exhibitors in the upcoming 13th edition of IFEX Philippines on May 24-26, 2019 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

This is the working target of its organizer, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Excitement is mounting for the newly rebranded IFEX Philippines NXTFOOD ASIA with all its fresh show features and special activities for trade buyers and visitors coming from different parts of the globe,” said DTI-CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan.

“We expect this escalating level of interest and enthusiasm will translate to a higher sales turnout for our international and local exhibitors,” she added.

Presenting ‘NXTFOOD ASIA,’ this year’s edition will showcase Asian food featuring the latest food innovations, trends and best practices in the industry with the participation of Asian food manufacturers, experts, culinary masters, enthusiasts and other stakeholders in the food world.

Featured in the three day event are Asian and Philippine food products from 10 food sectors, namely: (1) Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages; (2) Coffee, Herbal teas, and Cocoa; (3) Fresh and Processed Seafood; (4) Fruits and Vegetables; (5) Grains, Cereals, and Commodities; (6) Herbs and Spices; (7) Meat and Poultry; (8) Natural, Healthy, and Organic Products; (9) Specialty, Ethnic, and Gourmet Products; and (10) Food Processing Equipment, Packaging Materials, Refrigeration, and Storage.

Organized by DTI-CITEM, IFEX Philippines NXTFOOD ASIA is the country’s biggest and most respected business-to-business (B2B) event for Asian food and ingredients. It is co-organized with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT).

Thousands of buyers all over the world crave PH and Asian Food

For its 13th edition, more than 2,000 international and local buyers have already signed up for the event to check out the latest export products and services of around 650 food exhibitors in the country’s biggest food event.

Negotiations between buyer and exhibitors happen at IFEX Connect area.

The top 10 buyer country of origin of international buyers in the upcoming event are from the USA, UAE, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Qatar.

“We have strengthened our event marketing and Very Important Buyer (VIB) program to attract international buyers who include international and local retailers, wholesalers, specialty store owners, importers, buying agents, hotelier or restaurateurs,” noted Suaco-Juan.

“We are also expecting big buyer delegations to check out the latest offering of Philippine and Asian food in IFEX Philippines such as the chocolate buying missions from Belgium and San Francisco, Shanghai firms as well as the group from Guangdong International Food Association,” she added.

Top VIBs joining IFEX Philippines include TNT Supermarket, Inc. from Canada; Heuschen & Schrouff Oriental Foods Trading B.V. from the Netherlands; Beagley Copperman BV from Belgium; H Mart GBK and Pure Sales, Inc. from the US; Lulu Hypermarket LLC, Al Maya Group, Al Rawabi Group of Companies and New Era Gulf General Trading LLC from UAE; Truebell Marketing and Trading LLC and Integral Food Services WLL from Qatar; Hurxley Corporation and Cocowell Corporation from Japan; Hyundai Green Food and Eland Retail from South Korea; and Goodfarmer Foods Holding (Group) Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Laiyifen Co., Ltd. from China.

DTI-CITEM opened its ‘IFEX Connect’ program, a customized platform for integrated business-to-business (B2B) matching services to help buyers identify and screen potential business partners among the exhibitors in collaboration with DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau (EMB).

According to Suaco-Juan, exhibitors and buyers can take advantage of the G-Mart Private Label Matching Program at IFEX Connect. IFEX Very Important Buyers (VIBs) are also expected to hold pre-arranged business-to-business meetings through this venue.

IFEX Philippines 2018 performance

In the previous edition of IFEX Philippines, DTI-CITEM surpassed its targets with over US$256 million worth of export and domestic sales from 513 international and local exhibitors.

Among the 10 product sectors in the event, natural and organic products emerged as the best-selling category, which generated US$29.9 million worth of sales. It was followed by fine food and specialties at US$29 million; fresh and processed fruits and vegetables at US$22.6 million; grains and cereals at US$12.9 million; and beverages at US$8.55 million.