Overcoming the Pandemic
On May 12th, 2023, the biennial exhibition HOFEX concluded at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking its 36th year of excellence. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the show welcomed 30,823 visitors from 64 countries and regions, along with over 1,200 exhibitors and brands from 16 countries and regions.
Connecting exhibitors and visitors from around the world
Co-located with ProWine Hong Kong @HOFEX, Retail Asia Conference & Expo, and Build4Asia, HOFEX is the leading B2B sourcing platform for the F&B, hospitality, retail, and building industries in Asia. The event connects exhibitors and visitors from Mainland China, Asia-Pacific, and beyond, providing a premier platform for businesses to network, collaborate, and explore new opportunities.
The exhibition industry in Hong Kong returns to normal
As we weaved through the pavilions, all the pavilions were packed with visitors. As frequent exhibition visitors, we feel that the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), which just concluded a week earlier, was not as crowded as HOFEX, leading us to believe that the exhibition industry in Hong Kong has returned to normal.
According to a report from Hong Kong 01, Monica Lee-Müller, the managing director of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Centre, stated that there are approximately 100 regular exhibitions this year. Seventy of these exhibitions are trade exhibitions, including the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, InnoEx, Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, and Cosmoprof Asia. Large-scale conferences, such as the Hong Kong International Dental Expo & Symposium and the Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation, are also being held. It is expected that the scale of exhibitions will return to 70% to 80% by the end of the year and fully resume next year.
USA Pavilion at HOFEX 2023: showcasing sustainable food and beverage offerings
This year, the USA Pavilion at HOFEX 2023 doubled the number of U.S. exhibitors participating, showcasing a wide variety of sustainable food and beverage offerings. Visitors were able to sample Alaskan seafood, Oregon Hazelnuts, Wisconsin Ginseng, Virginian specialty beverages, condiments and sauces, pecans, tart cherries, as well as a wide range of products from the Southern and Western regions of the United States.
Hong Kong's $21 billion market: a top export destination for U.S. premium products
Hong Kong is the third largest supplier of consumer-ready food products to Hong Kong’s $21 billion market. The city is also a top export destination for U.S. premium products such as seafood, fresh fruit, edible tree nuts, and beef, and the number one market for specialty U.S. products like ginseng and eel.
Overall, HOFEX 2023 was a resounding success, bringing together exhibitors and visitors from around the world to showcase the latest trends and innovations in the food and hospitality industry. The event provided an unparalleled platform for businesses to connect and forge new partnerships, and we look forward to seeing what HOFEX has in store for us in 2025.