The First and Only Trade Fair for Vegetarian Food Sector

Vegetarian Food Asia 2015, the first and only trade fair for the vegetarian food sector in Hong Kong, will be held in the Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre from 5 to 7 February 2015.
Strong Support and Recognition from the Vegetarian Industry
As one of the very few professional fairs for the vegetarian food sector in the Asia-Pacific region, Vegetarian Food Asia (VFA) already earned considerable industry recognition for its first launch, having witnessed the support from over 60 professional associations and media to date. 

Supporting entities include Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Association Limited, Hong Kong Vegan Association, Vegetable Marketing Organization, Green Monday, Meat Free Hong Kong, LOHAS Association of Hong Kong, Club O, Hong Kong Catholic Vegetarian Association and Green Council.

Associations and media from the mainland China, Taiwan and other overseas countries include Korea LOHAS Association, Japan LOHAS Business Alliance, The Malaysia Vegetarian,International Vegetarian Club of Beijing, OFDC, China Health Association, LOHAS Magazine,
Organic Slow Life, aweb.com.cn, Meat Free Monday Taiwan, Taiwan Vegetarian Association,Taiwan Vegetarian Health Industry Alliance, Suiis.com, Taiwan Food News, HappyCow,Connature and Eco-Business.com, etc.

The supporting partners will offer a series of promotions and exposure opportunities to the Fair, inviting industry buyers to visit and procure goods on-the-spot through organizing‘professional delegation’. Strong industry support from various domestic and foreign regions,which clearly indicates VFA’s high-class, professional and international nature. The launch of this Fair is set to present a vegetarian food industry event with a host of relevant elites and boundless business opportunities.

Rapid Growth of Vegetarian Industry Lead to Green Health Trends

Consumers have become increasingly aware of the importance of health as well as environment and animal protection, which has led to the rapid rise of vegetarianism. In China, the vegetarian consumer group is literally booming, and it is estimated that the number of vegetarians there will exceed 18 million in future. In Hong Kong, the number of those practising vegetarianism at least one day per week has also climbed dramatically from
350,000 in 2008 to 1.6 million in 2014, representing a 350% growth. It is therefore evident that the number of vegetarians is experiencing a sharp increase across major Asian cities.

As the first and only trade fair for the vegetarian food sector in Hong Kong, Vegetarian Food Asia 2015 is expected to attract tens of thousands of relevant buyers from the catering industry, supermarkets/convenience stores, café chains, chain stores for natural and organic products, hotels, clubs, operations, importers and dealers, as well as the general public.Products on display will include various types of vegetarian food ingredients, soya bean produces, fruits and vegetables, beverages, biscuits and snacks, bread and baked food,chocolate and snacks, herbal spices, nuts and dried fruits, cooking oil, raw food ingredients,rice and noodles, seasonings, seeds and plants, tea and coffee, as well as vegetarian nutritional supplements. The occasion will therefore be a first-class platform for industry practitioners to handle procurements and exchange ideas as well as for vegetarians to enhance their understanding of the latest market landscape.

Ms Carman Cheung, General Manager of the Fair’s organizer Inspire Advertising & Marketing Limited, said, ‘As the number of Asian vegetarians is witnessing an unprecedented strong growth, the vegetarian food market is also growing rapidly. Industry practitioners will indeed benefit from Hong Kong’s advantageous geographical location in gaining access to mainland China’s huge market and bringing themselves in line with the international marketplace.Vegetarian Food Asia can introduce and display various kinds of vegetarian food ingredients to buyers from Hong Kong and elsewhere, creating a procurement and trade platform which is specific to the vegetarian food sector.’

Ms Culsin Li, Managing Director of the Fair’s principal partner Baobab Tree Event, also looks forward to Vegetarian Food Asia 2015 keenly, ‘The booth sale for Vegetarian Food Asia 2015 is proceeding with full momentum. Apart from enterprises in Hong Kong, those from mainland China, Taiwan, Korea and Southeast Asia are also going to participate. Besides, the 3-day Fair will come with a diversified programme involving expert speeches and culinary demonstrations by renowned chefs. Vegetarian Food Asia is indeed a big event for the vegetarian food industry and we really hope that both participating organizations and visiting buyers will be able to make the most of it.’

Varied, Exciting Fair Events including Demonstration by Vegetarian ‘Chef Master’
During 3-day event, a number of experts and scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, who will be invited to share their expertise and ideas on the market trends and commercial models of the sector as well as vegetarianism and green health culture in general at the “Onsite Forum”.

An onsite ‘Vegetarian Kitchen’ at which star chefs will demonstrate a number of vegetarian dishes, and share their vegetarian culinary skills for visitors to widen their horizons. They include Nathan Lyon, chef and host of the US television programmes ‘Growing A Greener World’ and ‘Good Food America’; Hong Yinlong, golden celebrity chef at Taiwan’s first vegetarian restaurant who is currently the Chairman and Executive Chef of Taiwan Fahuayuan Restaurant, and has earned himself the honour of ‘Vegetarian Chef Master’; Zhou Guoting who has won two gold prizes at the World Golden Chef Competition; as well as Luo Youchang, Chief Instructor at the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute of Hong Kong.

In line with the ‘EatSmart@restaurant.hk’ Campaign implemented by the Department of Health (DOH) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Vegetarian Food Asia will co-organize with the DOH an ‘EatSmart@restaurant.hk’ fast pass workshop for the occasion. At the workshop,participating restaurants will be able to receive an ‘EatSmart Restaurant’ certificate on the same day by simply attending the briefing session and passing the test.

Held Concurrently with LOHAS Expo to Jointly Promote the Development of the Green
Health Industry
Both held in Hall 5FG of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre concurrently,Vegetarian Food Asia 2015 and LOHAS Expo 2015 will jointly create the most valuable trade and exchange platform for the green industry. LOHAS Expo is an industry fair featured by organic, natural, healthy and green life products which is dedicated to promoting the LOHAS ideal centred upon the Lifestyle Of Health And Sustainability. Since its first launch held in 2012, LOHAS Expo has attracted the participation of various renowned enterprises and brands in the industry from such diverse countries and regions as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Japan, Korea, Australia, Austria, the US, Germany, Canada, Singapore and Norway.

Mr Zhou Zejiang, Vice-President of the Asian board of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), will even be invited as a heavyweight representative for the organic life sector to deliver an analysis of the opportunities and challenges in China’s organic market, during the LOHAS forum at the fourth launch of LOHAS Expo next year. Senior representatives of OFDC will also be present to illustrate China’s
regulations and market developments relating to the organic sector. Leading Chinese enterprises will also be invited to share their expertise on conducting organic product businesses in mainland China, which will definitely further add to the attractiveness of

LOHAS Expo for industry players. Hand in hand, Vegetarian Food Asia 2015 and LOHAS Expo 2015 will be promoting the propagation and development of the green health industry and are simply not to be missed!

Vegetarian Food Asia 2015 will offer free admission to industry practitioners on 5 and 6 February, and will be open to both industry players and the general public on 7 February at an admission fee of HKD10. We earnestly look forward to your presence at the Fair!

Contact Information:
China
Tel：+86 20 3758 3765 ext 8003
Email: candy.he@baobab-tree-event.com
Contact Person: Ms. Candy He