Some 2,500 major global brands from more than 70 countries exhibited at Foodex Japan on March 5-8 at Tokyo Big Sight, with valuable networking opportunities for new and existing business relationships at the biggest food trade show in Asia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voiLyQa3ucI
Among the more colorful attendees were former Canon Eagles rugby player Jan de Klerk, who is now in the nut business in his native South Africa. Jan lives near Cape Town running Pikan, a small product development company specializing in pecan nut products and snacks. As South African Chamber of Commerce in Japan chairman, I caught up with him again. I told him I was dismayed that there was no South African country exhibit stand this year, shared with him some business entry and expansion tips, and asked him: why Japan?
“I played professional rugby in Japan for four years before I was injured and was forced to retire from the game. I know it is a great place to live, and do business once your quaility product and service are established. Foodex is a great place to start.”
His family farm in North West Province is expanding in expectation of a increase in orders from wholesalers, specialty stores, restaurants, and other importers in Japan and overseas: pikan.co.za; wholesumjapan.jp/pages/pikan_lp
Executive Committee Chairman Nanao Nobuyasu said: “The main theme of the 49th Foodex Japan was Total Solution of Food. In recent years, frozen foods and food technologies including alternative foods have been gaining popularity due to socio-environmental changes such as the increasing number of working women and considerations for environmental sustainability. I am very excited to see a wide range of problem-solving and intriguing products and services by a myriad of organizations for all those involved in the food-related businesses: food ingredients, food-processing machineries, agricultural products, seafood, livestock products, processed foods, and beverages.”
The main categories were:
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Bakery Products, Noodle & Pasta
- Coffee, Tea & Drink Ingredients
- Confectionery & Desserts
- Dairy, Egg & Egg Products
- Frozen Foods
- Grains
- Meats
- Organic Foods / Health-oriented Foods
- Seafood
- Seasonings, Spices and Other Ingredients
- Soft Drinks & Water
- Sugars & Spreads
- Vegetable & Fruits
Simon Farrell
Publisher, Custom Media
