2007 Trade Show Matches Small Food Companies
News Date: 5/8/2007
Contact: DeWitt Ashby
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 8, 2007
CHICAGO, Ill. – In today’s global economy, seeking international customers is a must for small to mid-sized food companies looking to grow. That is why organizers of the U.S. Food Export Showcase take time to organize meetings of these food companies and international buyers both during and after show hours.
These less formal meetings often provide companies and buyers the opportunity to follow up on connections made on the show floor, discuss their interests and goals, and get a better idea of how each party can help meet the needs of the other. One good example of this follow-up work came on Monday, May 7, when officials from the U.S. Food Export Showcase and from participating state departments of agriculture met with 30 trade officials from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. These three countries were among the 13 countries present at the world’s largest food show, the FMI Show, at McCormick Place this weekend.
“Networking is an important part of this business,” said DeWitt Ashby, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Director of Trade Shows. Ashby has organized the U.S. Food Export Showcase on behalf of NASDA’s member states for 24 years, and he said the number of international buyers has surged in the last few years after dropping off a bit earlier this decade.
“We invite potential customers from around the world to come and see what our companies have to offer, but these meetings are also about learning what international customers want,” Ashby said. “The communication has to work both ways if we want to have long-term relationships.”
According to Jamie Loh, Marketing Manager for GBA Corp., Selangor, Malaysia, the country’s growing middle class is having an influence on consumer preferences. In fact, at this year’s U.S. Food Export Showcase, Ms. Loh is on the look out for Tex-Mex products.
“The Tex-Mex trend is in its infancy in Malaysia,” Loh explained. “However, people are becoming more affluent. They are traveling more and are getting exposed to western life styles and tastes.”
Ashby and others note a shift in international buyers’ interest toward organic and specialty food products in recent years. This trend accelerated at the 2007 show, and bodes well for the three trade shows, the U.S. Food Export Showcase, the Fancy Food Show and All Things Organic, that will exhibit together in 2008 and beyond.
Currently, the three food shows exhibit in partnership with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the United Fresh at McCormick Place in Chicago annually. This is the last year the five major food shows will be exhibiting under one roof. Next year, FMI and United Fresh will depart from the Chicago location, leaving the three aforementioned food shows to continue to work to connect food companies with buyers from around the world.
Chris Nemchek, Vice President of Exhibition Management for the Fancy Food Show, said the changes taking place after this year’s show and the departure of the Food Marketing Institute Show will help sharpen the focus of the event for the three remaining shows. “We’re going back to our roots as a food show,” Nemchek said. “We are extremely energized by our relationship with NASDA and the All Things Organic show.”
Next year’s U.S. food Export Showcase will take place April 27-29, 2008 at McCormick Place in Chicago. More information on the U.S. Food Export Showcase can be found at www.nasdatradshows.org.