Known as FOODEX Japan, the expo is typically participated by over 3,300 exhibitors with over 80,000 professional trade buyers and visitors from various countries all over the world. Given the pandemic, the event took on a hybrid format this year consisting of physical and digital components.
Led by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), a delegation of 10 food companies joined the exhibition. To address the demand for healthy and natural food products, local brands like Magic Melt, Prime Fruits, Eau de Coco, Market Reach, and Pasciolco International Inc. presented their roster of Philippine-made commodities to the buyers.
Some of the items include GUSTO powdered vegetable drink mix by Bus Innovation Gateway, Coco Mama Fresh Gata by Century Pacific Food Corp., Marca Leon premium coconut oil from Limketkai Manufacturing Corporation, preservative-free Banana Chips by See’s International, and Willy Farms Sticky Jasmine Rice from Slagritech.
“Before the pandemic, the Japanese have always had healthy eating habits, with the rest of the world now catching up,” Suaco-Juan noted. “We’re glad to offer to the world our tropical selections, grown on our country’s distinct terroir, which offer a new and flavorful component of wellness,” she added.
The physical show in Chiba, Japan ended three days after the launch in March 9, but virtually, exhibitors and buyers can still set up meetings and chats via the FOODEX online platform until October 8 this year.
“Despite the difficulties we are facing, we’re confident that the Philippine delegation for FoodEx will be able to sustain the country’s position as a premier food sourcing destination,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the Trade Promotions Group Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman said.
Collectively, the companies are hoping to generate at least USD14.05M in final sales from this year’s trade show.
