KUALA LUMPUR: Food and Hospitality Malaysia (FHM) has returned for its 18th edition, with over 1,500 exhibiting brands, international pavilions and a full line-up of competitions, conferences and industry showcases at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Organised by Informa Markets, this year’s theme, “Cultivating Solutions for the Food and Hospitality Industry”, underscores the event’s role as Malaysia’s leading trade platform for the food, beverage and hospitality sectors.
Vice-president of Informa Markets Asia Ian Roberts said FHM is more than an exhibition, but a platform to connect industry leaders, launch trends, form partnerships and inspire new talent.
“Since its inception, FHM has grown into Malaysia’s leading trade platform for food, beverage and hospitality – where the best industry minds come together to connect, launch trends, form partnerships and inspire new talent.
“Throughout the event, I encourage you to embrace the spirit of cultivating solutions. Let’s focus on discovering new ways to improve operations, enhance customer experience and develop sustainable practices.
“Explore ideas, collaborate with peers, and plant the seeds for innovative solutions that will bear fruit well into the future,” he said at the FHM 2025 opening ceremony here yesterday.
Highlights include the Coffee Mixology Challenge, Culinaire Malaysia, the FutureFWD Conference and Housekeeping Malaysia 2025, which celebrates the professionals behind memorable guest experiences.
Visitors to the event, which ends on Friday, can also explore the International Signature Hall, the Pastry Innovation Lab and the World Pastry Cup – Team Malaysia National Selection.
Showcasing the best: (From left) Celebrity chef Martin Yan, Toh, Tan, Roberts, organising chairman of Culinaire Malaysia 2025 and MAH vice president, Shirley Lai and Informa country general manager Gerard Leeuwenburgh at the opening ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Starhttps://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9r0y8i
Also present at the opening ceremony were Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) CEO Tan Mei Phing and Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Datin Christina Toh, who both stressed the exhibition’s role in shaping the industry’s future.
Tan said MyCEB is committed to positioning Malaysia as a leading destination for international exhibitions, conventions and trade shows.
“Each event hosted is not just an opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s capabilities, but also a catalyst for economic growth, talent development and international collaboration.
Supporting events like FHM aligns with MyCEB’s mission to make Malaysia the place where industries evolve, businesses expand and innovation thrives.”
With the food and hospitality sectors entering a new era driven by sustainability, digital transformation and evolving consumer lifestyles, Tan emphasised that FHM helps chart the course of this transformation.
“FHM brings together innovators, decision-makers and industry leaders, and provides them a dynamic space for dialogue, collaboration and knowledge sharing where the future of the industry is cultivated and defined.
“Every successful event enhances Malaysia’s global reputation and creates a ripple effect that benefits our entire economy,” she added.
Echoing this sentiment, Toh said FHM remains the country’s premier trade-only exhibition showcasing the latest industry trends and innovations.
“Over the years, FHM has become an irreplaceable part of our industry, continually setting new benchmarks for excellence and inspiring growth throughout the sector,” she said.
She added MAH is proud to co-organise Culinaire Malaysia, which has become one of the most anticipated highlights of FHM.
This year, it will feature 1,060 participants from 18 countries competing across 35 cooking classes, supervised by 125 expert judges led by Karl Heinz Ney from the German Chef Association.
Toh said the event will host the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge Asian Regional Semi-Final, organised by WorldChefs.
Fifty-five contestants from 14 countries will compete in four categories – the Global Chefs Challenge, the Global Pastry Chefs Challenge, the Global Vegan Chefs Challenge and the Global Young Chefs Challenge.
“By staging competitions of this calibre alongside international showcases, FHM not only raises professional standards but also inspires the next generation of culinary and hospitality talent,” Toh said.
With its wide-ranging programme and international participation, she said FHM 2025 continues to affirm Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for food and hospitality innovation.
