Featuring high quality foodstuffs and ingredients as well as business opportunities in the catering industry, the 8th Guangzhou International Food & Ingredient Fair (GIFIF) opened at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center on June 27th and will run through to the 29th.

Sichuan products are displayed at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu] 

Covering an exhibition area of 50,000 square meters, the fair sees nearly 1,500 exhibitors from 10 provinces in China and dozens of overseas exhibitors from Japan, Poland, Malaysia, Israel, Cambodia, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Ukraine, Peru and the United States. On the opening day, 27,688 visitors and businesspeople attended the fair.

In Halls 1 and 2, established catering chain brands provide special offers and one-stop services for their partners. Some famous brands include ZZ Pizza, Meetrice, Wenshi Jiawei, Denglao Herbal Tea, Joyoung Soybean Milk and Grandpa’s Hollow Noodles.

A girl shows a box of rice produced in Hunan at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu] 

In Halls 3 and 4, exhibitors from both China and foreign countries are demonstrating thousands of high quality products, such as American rice, Russian liquor, snacks and food supplements for infants, Polish spices as well as Turkish dried fruit.

Kutuzov Denis, Director General of Seaweed Chips from the Tver region, Russia, has brought the company’s new product—a lollipop shape chocolate with cute animal faces on the packaging to the fair. Denis said his company just developed this snack two months ago, hoping to give customers a feeling of childhood nostalgia.

Kutuzov Denis (R) poses for a photo in his booth. [Photo: Monica Liu] 

Cao Yuan, General Manager of Guangzhou Eveor Import and Export Co., Ltd, is an agent of Granny’s Basket, an infant food supplements brand from Russia. Cao said the brand has a history of 20 years and is very popular in Russia. He hopes to promote the products via this fair and gain a greater market share in Guangdong.

A Russian representative of Granny’s Basket poses for a photo in front of the booth. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Dr. Eng. Piotr Barczak, CEO of P.H. Royal Sp. z o.o., told the reporter that it is the first time for them to attend the fair where he sees interesting opportunities for both his businesses and other Polish enterprises. “People in Guangdong are very open to Polish products and Polish companies are very interested in the Guangdong market,” Barczak said. Barczak’s company offers over 300 Polish herbs, spices and mixed spices, including hand-packaged candied sugar and salts with kelp.

Dr. Eng. Piotr Barczak (L) and Maciej Barczak, Import & Sales Director of the company, pose for a photo in front of their booth. [Photo: Monica Liu]

According to the organizing committee, about 40 corresponding events including forums, lectures and competitions on the themes of rice, cooking, retail and chain business will be held during the fair.

The fair is hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangzhou (CCPIT Guangzhou) and organized by Guangzhou International Exhibition Company.

Author: Monica Liu

Editor: Simon Haywood

Sichuan products are displayed at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Liquor products are exhibited at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Visitors wait for tea drinks at a booth. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Exhibitors talk with potential clients at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Exhibitors talk with potential clients at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Chefs cook food at a booth. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Visitors wait for boiled fish with pickled cabbage and chili at a booth. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Liquor products are exhibited at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Ginseng products from Jilin are displayed at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Visitors inquire about the steamed rice in clay pots at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Chefs cook boiled fish with pickled cabbage and chili at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu] 

A cooking competition is held at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

A cooking competition is held at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

People visit the Russian booths at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]

Two exhibitors from the United States pose for a photo at their booth.[Photo: Monica Liu]

USA Rice is on display at the fair. [Photo: Monica Liu]