Opening Day of Fi Asia-China 2009 Brings the Food Ingredients Industry to Shanghai

SHANGHAI - Fi Asia-China focusing on the critical issues of health ingredients and food safety

Food ingredients Asia-China opens in Shanghai today and the food ingredients industry will be there. After the unprecedented success of the 2008 show, Food Ingredients (Fi) Asia-China will once again run alongside Health ingredients (Hi) and Natural ingredients (Ni), as well as CPhI, P-MEC and ICSE, on 23-25 June, 2009 in Shanghai, China.

Ingredients for Healthy Living

The success of the show underscores an increasing interest in health and natural ingredients. By running all three ingredient shows simultaneously under one roof, organiser United Business Media (UBM) says exhibitors will benefit from unrivalled visitor numbers, while visitors will have access to an exhibitor base that is both broad and focused.

Traditional Chinese Medicinal ingredients (TCM) are being tested by major international corporations like Unilever and research organizations such as Wageningen University for use as functional food ingredients. China is already a leading suppliers of herbal extracts like artemisinin, solanesol, St. John’s wort and gingko extract, and is set to become a major source of “superfruits” like Goji and seabuckthorn berries which are gaining worldwide attention.

Fi/Hi/NI China Event Manager Vincent Brain says “With concerns about health and obesity remaining high on the agenda, the co-location of Health ingredients China and Natural ingredients China will enable manufacturers to source ingredients that will make their products stand out to consumers. With innovative products on display and a number of product launches, visitors can find solutions that will give their products a competitive advantage”

Safety concerns high on the agenda

China has enjoyed a reputation as an international, low cost supplier of food ingredients, however safety scandals have recently rocked the food industry in China. After years of development, China’s comprehensive new Food Law was put into effect on June 1, 2009. Fast on the heels of this important legislation, Fi Asia-China will provide visitors with the opportunity to see how the industry in China is responding to these new requirements.

The popular FiPSS (Food ingredients Processing Safety & Services) Pavilion will provide a forum for Chinese food manufacturers to seek advice from providers of traceability, microbiology, processing and quality control products and services to ensure food safety standards and regulations are being met.

The world’s fastest growing market for ingredients

The promise of cost effective, safe ingredients is a major factor in the industry’s enthusiasm for Fi Asia-China. However, equally enticing is the opportunity to explore the incredible potential of the Chinese market. As Mr. Brain explains, “Whilst the present economic climate has hit consumer confidence, the Chinese food industry is still expected to grow an additional 109% by 2013. China’s new middle class remains a resilient market for international companies looking to protect their revenues as core markets mature”.

As UBM anticipates another successful event, the company attributes this success to its efforts to continually evolve its shows’ content to meet the demands of the food ingredient industry and provide a showcase for growing global markets.

Show details Fi Asia-China, Hi China and Ni China 2009 June 23-25, 2009 Shanghai International Exhibition Center Shanghai, China For more information, please visit www.ingredientsnetwork.com

About the organiser

United Business Media is headquartered in London, UK. The office in the Netherlands is the organiser of the world-leading Health ingredients, Food ingredients, CPhi, ICSE and Informex series of food and pharmaceutical ingredients trade shows. The Dutch office also publishes International Food Ingredients Magazine For more information, visit www.ubm.com.

Source: UBM International Media

Ms. Valerie Snow of UBM International Media, +31-346-559-460, fax, +31-346-573-811, valerie.snow at ubm.com