HCM CITY — As many as 100 food and beverages (F&B) enterprises from 12 countries are displaying their products at the Việt Nam International Café Show 2018 which opened on Thursday in HCM City.

The third annual event is one of the largest coffee shows of the year with the presence of major coffee brands such as Trung Nguyên and King Coffee, as well as famous brandname coffee machines and accessories.

Exhibitors are also displaying desserts, raw materials and ingredients.

There is also a space devoted to new products and services in the Vietnamese food and beverage industry.

In addition, the coffee training station offers visitors a chance to experience cupping and brewing under the guidance of professionals.

A class for cafe owners, consultants and R&D staff to learn about recipes from experts was also held, while baristas served free cups of coffee to visitors.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyễn Thế Hưng, deputy director of the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s HCM City branch, said this was a leading exhibition, especially specialised in the coffee industry, providing a great forum for participants to exchange experiences and knowledge about coffee.

“More importantly, the event will help better promote Vietnamese coffee to the world,” he said.

Cao Diệu Linh, marketing manager of Vietblend Beverage Trading and Services Co. Ltd, said: “This is the second time the company has participated in the exhibition and we hope to promote our products to customers.”

“Though the F&B market in Việt Nam has become more competitive, it has great potential and much room to grow for businesses that are willing to invest in hi-technology and high-quality ingredients,” she told Việt Nam News.

Visitor Agustin Vinelli, who is managing director of the Hong Kong-based Caffè Perfetto Limited in Southeast Asia, said: “The show is really interesting to visit as it showcased a variety of coffee products of the highest quality in addition to other F&B products.”

Mohammed Khalid, a visitor from Dubai, said he was impressed by the special coffee products displayed at the show, especially coffee capsules.

During the show, the final round of the Việt Nam National Barista Championship will determine the winner representing Việt Nam at the World Barista Championship to be held in June in Amsterdam.

The Việt Nam Signature Battle, a competition to promote innovative beverage and spirit recipes, has also returned for the show.

The winner will receive a prize of US$5,000 and have an opportunity to join professional training courses and compete at the World Signature Battle 2018 in Seoul.

With rapid development of the beverage market, especially coffee, the show has attracted attention from enterprises, farmers, manufacturers, distributors and related services. The show will run until May 5 at the Sài Gòn Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7.

Last year, the show had 150 booths from 10 countries and more than 18,000 visitors and buyers.

Launched in 2002 in Seoul, the Cafe Show has steadily grown and established a foothold in the South Korea and Asian coffee market. — VNS