Global Trade Fairs in Covid Times
As of July 2020, invitations for participation are still out for SIAL **Paris **and Kosherfest in Secaucus, New Jersey, USA. I am sure there are other global trade fairs gearing to get back on competitive footing to showcase the best in the world.
I can understand the trepidation. It used to be cost of participation, travel and accommodation as well as food budget that factor hugely when deciding. Even shopping can be a side attraction. But most importantly, scanning and matching products to the market are critical. However the Covid-19 changed all these standard perspectives.
All considerations are swept away by the most major decision to make: Is it Covid safe? We trust all countries standing up to the challenge, even as one of the most well-attended in the USA, the Fancy Food Summer Show usually hosted in New York sometime June or July cancelled this 2020. But the Winter version, also very popular and usually held in January may run in 2021. The world is watching.
SIAL and Kosherfest are two food fairs with unique attractions and are longtime crowd-drawers. The Philippines has consistently strived to be represented in SIAL Paris, ANUGA Germany, GULFOOD Dubai, as well as Fancy Food Summer and Winter Fairs USA.
I attended Fancy Food New York in 2019 to observe and confirmed what old friend Cherif Moujabber informed me way back 2009 or so. The fair, being in the center of the Jewish hubs of New York, New Jersey and Chicago, even Florida, has drawn a good number of Jewish buyers. Over the years, this information has been shared with the Filipino exporters. And if there were 10 or more exporters - there must have only been one without Kosher certification, but working on it!
Kosherfest USA is undoubtedly the world's most outstanding Kosher market. The biggest Jewish or Kosher buyers are certain to be there. But remember they do not merely buy for the Jewish communities in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and other strong Jewish hubs. Research revealed Kosher products are consumed by 20 percent by Jewish consumers and the rest by practically the mainstream market. Kosher certification by third party certifiers is considered an additional edge of food safety, given that source of ingredients and production processes must be inspected and strictly approved as natural and Kosher-certified.
So for those participating in future Fancy Food shows, keep that in mind. As for Kosherfest it is focused on Kosher food. BUT think about it, all sodas are Kosher approved. Coke, Pepsi so on and on. What about chips? Frito Lay chips are certified. And chocolates and candies? What about HERSHEY! Godiva. Callebaut. Valrhona. And so many more very familiar food brands. Your product might just be what the Jewish market needs. One thing, I know calamansi and moringa products have been Kosher-certified of late.
If you need more information on joining SIAL Paris and **Kosherfest **USA 2020, please get in touch with me and let us see how we can work together.
Meanwhile here are some pictures of the Philippine booth in Summer Fancy Food 2019 at the Jacob Javits Center amid bustling and busy New York in pre-Covid time and possibly some newer Kosherfest pictures. I had been attending this latter fair for work since 2012.