The post-show data is in, and by all accounts the Shanghai International Frozen & Refrigerated Food Expo (SIFRE) held September 3-5 was quite successful. It ran concurrently with the China Hotel Cuisine Tasting event, which served up 216 dishes featuring recipes from the nation’s numerous provinces and regions.
“With support from the China National Food Industry Association Frozen Food Committee, China Agriculture Wholesale Market Association Frozen Food Committee, Shanghai Frozen Food Industry Association and Taiwan Frozen Food Processors Association, SIFRE 2014 gained more this year,” reported Stephanie Su of the show’s international sales and marketing department.
The number of exhibitors at the annual trade fair increased by 34% over last year’s running, to 826, which included 124 from outside of China. This, of course, required more space than before, as the fifth edition of SIFRE hosted a 40% larger display area encompassing 26,000 square meters.
The international continent of products and companies on the scene ranged from frozen potato specialist Lutosa of Belgium, and pineapple fritters maker Schnits Frozen Foods (SFF International) of Australia, to “Good Morning” breakfast Baozi (steamed buns) filled with sweet red beans from Laurel Inc. of Taiwan, to sea cucumbers marketed by US Marine Ranch Co. of Alaska.
Among leading Chinese frozen food companies showing their stuff was Zhenzhou, Henan, PRC-headquartered Synear. It highlighted a number of tempting Zongzi treats, which are sticky glutinous rice dumpling triangles stuffed with various fillings such as meat and chestnuts wrapped in bamboo leaves.
SIFRE’s visitor count, at 23,658, reflected growth of 27% compared with 2013. The overseas delegate list, numbering 946, included representatives from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries.
According to a survey conducted by the show organizer, visitors were mainly distributors, agents, manufacturers, processor and purchasers from hotels, supermarkets, hypermarkets and catering operations. The kinds of products they were most interested in buying – and 32.5% said the purpose for visiting the show was primarily to make purchases – were frozen meat (25.7%), seafood (24.2%), poultry (13.9%), fruits and vegetables (13%), baked goods (11.5%) and equipment (9%).
Meanwhile, it has been announced that SIFRE 2015 will be held next August 26-28, again at Shanghai New International Expo Center. Additional information is available by contacting Stephanie Su via e-mail (stephaniegh@126.com) or by phone/fax (+86 21-67759083).
