Santé! To record-breaking success of SIAL China
The 15th edition of SIAL China was a record-breaking event on many counts. A total of 2,385 exhibitors (an increase of 11% over 2013) took over 96,200sqm (an increase of 14% over 2013) of space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
Furthermore, SIAL China hosted 55 international pavilions as well as exhibitors from 27 Chinese provinces and cities who showcased their high quality products to visitors and buyers from all over the world.
In terms of exhibit variety, SIAL China also exceeded visitor expectations. From quantity to quality, from variety to value, from trends to innovation, SIAL China 2014 offered everything that should be in the F&B industry. There were 18 products zones: wine, meat, gourmet, tea & coffee, fruit & vegetable, chocolate world, halal food, condiments, beverage, canned food, frozen food, dairy product, organic food, packaging and food technology, seafood, sweets & snacks, olive oil, beer.
Beyond the exhibition size and variety, Comexposium Shanghai invested much effort to present SIAL China as a fynamic food marketplace by highlighting food innovation, a lively forum and special feature shows.
La Cuisine by SIAL
The China International Top Chefs Invitational Competition was organised by SIAL and endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). It saw the keen participation of 16 top international chefs from Cambodia, Taiwan Region, Thailand and Malaysia, as well as 16 top China national chefs from Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Shenzhen.
At the end of the intense competition, the Thailand team won the Gold medal, while the Beijing and Taiwan Region team were awarded Silver medals. Pavilion organiser Sopexa, Malaysia and sponsors Denis Freres and Canada Beef also added to the event with excellent culinary and product demonstrations.
SIAL Innovation
SIAL Innovation, a competitive showcase of the latest F&B products exhibited in SIAL China, presented a new record: 63 selected innovative products from 48companies vied for 10 SIAL Innovation Awards and one SIAL Innovation Special Award.
This year, the big winner is Yummy-Bowls Pty Ltd from South Africa, which impressed with its Munch Bowls -- 250ml Plain Edible Crisp Wheat Bowls.
The SIAL TV Retail & Hospitality Forum was organised as a B2B platform for the exchange of views and expertise on HoReCa and retail among the participants. It saw industry leaders such as Carrefour, Heng Shou Tang and Shiyao deliver pitch-perfect presentations from topics that range from food innovation to retail and product management.
The forum was recorded by SIAL TV and shared on its online channel YouKu.com.
SIAL Wine World 2014
Co-located with SIAL China 2014 is the SIAL Wine World 2014. This is a professional and premium B2B wine trading platform catering to professional wine producers, distributors and retailers.
The 4th edition of SIAL Wine World also achieved new milestones – attracting 161 exhibitors from a host of countries to an exhibition space as large as 7000sqm. Exhibitors brought premium and qualified wines from France, Spain, Greece, South Africa, Germany, Bulgaria, China, Italy, Australia, Portugal, USA, Chile, Netherlands, Scotland, Belgium, Austria, Japan, Korea and Russia to greet exclusive visitors.
The Wine Innovation Forum (WIF) has grown to become a key event in SIAL Wine World.
During the three-day exhibition, there were 19 top wine tastings and conferences for local and international wine professionals.
A highlight of SIAL Wine World was the Best Buy China Competition, organised in partnership with WINE100, one of the most professional and authoritative wine rating agencies in China. It drew strong participation, with more than half of the exhibitors submitting their wines for the challenge.