All set for culinary trade exhibition

Jones (third from left) with some participating exhibitors of the FHM 2017 trade exhibition comprising (from left) Ho, Andy, Ng, Alvin and Global Pacific Victory (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Alex Liew.

THE biennial Food and Hotel Malaysia (FHM) 2017 international trade exhibition returns for its14th edition, and is set to be the biggest one yet.

Happening from Sept 26 to 29 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the event will host 1,200 participating companies from 50 countries.

The exhibitors will showcase a wide range of products and servicecs including food, drinks, equipment, supplies and technology relevant to the hotel, restaurant and cafe (Horeca) industry.

The event will cover 20,000sq m of exhibition space, with a total of 10 exhibition halls spilling over to the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur.

UBM Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd (UBM MES) general manager Alun Jones said the company was expecting more than 23,000 trade buyers and key decision makers from 57 countries.

“Over the years, the trade exhibition has become more sophisticated, and expanded to 12 international group pavilions,” he explained.

He said although food and beverage would continue to be a main feature at the exhibition, the industrial kitchen and equipment segment would be the event’s focal area, given its growth over the years.

Jones said the exhibition this year would offer more wine and spirits, which is something FHM does not usually highlight.

“There has been a growing interest in this area. Though we are starting small, we want to draw more focus to it.

“We will have a dedicated Wine Village in Hall 9, a Bordeaux wine seminar and a whisky ambassador seminar,” he added.

Events that will take place alongside the exhibition is the Culinaire Malaysia 2017, which is the only segment open to the public, as well as the appearance of AFC Family Kitchen’s chef Sherson Lian and his mother, Ann.

Other highlights include the soft launch of the Worldchefs Congress and Expo (WACS) 2018, cooking demonstrations by the Norwegian Seafood Council ambassador chef, tuna-slicing demonstrations by Sendo Ichi, and the Exhibitors’ Nite which will feature Worldchefs president Thomas A. Gugler.

Sendo Ichi (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Andy Tan said the exhibition would be a good platform to promote the company’s products and highlight its growing business in the seafood trade.

“This is a time to create an experience for buyers, and with our affiliation with the Tsukiji fish market in Japan, we are going the extra mile in bringing a group of professionals to demonstrate the slicing of a bluefin.”

Bidfood Malaysian Sdn Bhd managing director Stanley Ng said the exhibition would be an avenue to announce the company’s joint venture with foreign investors, and to make its brand and presence known.

The company, which is in the bakery and gelato business, will bring in international chefs to prepare samplings of desserts, chocolates, gelato, bread, mocktails and smoothies.

Fine food distributor Global Pacific Victory (M) Sdn Bhd, whose main focus is on dairy products, pasta, olive oil and other complementing goods, have since ventured into chilled products such as premium beef, and more recently, quality frozen seafood.

“Close to 99% of our products are imported from overseas and we supply mainly to food services and retail sectors.

“Through the fair, we hope to further expand our customer base, which is close to about 1,000 in the Horeca industry,” said executive director Alvin Tan.

Local fabricator of stainless steel equipment NKR Continental (M) Sdn Bhd wants to take advantage of the trade show to highlight new food equipment innovations.

“Some of the innovations are very new, and we want to make it known that they are available,” said the business development manager Ho Wei Kiat.

In addition, Ho said they do not just supply equipment for the foodservice industry, but also do kitchen planning and design.

“The exhibition will be a good platform to inform others about what we can do in the kitchen. We help in planning operation flow, testing of equipment and technical backup.”

Ho said they would demonstrate the use of the company’s hot and cold type equipment such as the combi oven and blast chiller.

Other key players in the industries which will be participating in the event include Auric Marketing, Euro-Atlantic, F&B Equipment, F&N Beverage Marketing, KIAN, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Nestle Products, Pastry Prop, Rak Porcelain and Swissmann.

FHM 2017 is supported by the Tourism and Culture Ministry, Malaysian Association of Hotels, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Professional Culinaire Association, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Malaysian F&B Executives Association, British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, CCI France Malaysia and is endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.

It is open from 10am to 6pm on Sept 26 to 28, and 10am to 5pm on Sept 29.

The event is only open to trade professionals. Pre-registration is open until Sept 25 via www.foodandhotel.com