Exhibitors from close to 40 different countries have already signed up to showcase their products and services at Asia Fruit Logistica 2018.
Asia’s premier continental trade show for fresh fruit and vegetable marketing returns to AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong on 5-7 September, and it is on course for significant growth.
Bookings for stand space are up by more than 30 per cent on this stage last year. That brings them close to the total exhibition space booked for 2017, with more than five months to go before this year’s edition opens its doors.
China’s two leading online food retail platforms will both be exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica for the first time.
E-commerce giant JD.com, which has been selling fresh food online since 2012, offers a wide range of products, sourcing from over 2,000 partners worldwide. The group also recently ventured into physical stores, with its high-tech New Retail format 7Fresh.
“Asia Fruit Logistica is a world-class fresh produce event, and JD.com must be part of it,” said James Ye, president of JD.com’s fresh division. “We look forward to getting together with industry leaders and specialists and discussing supply chain solutions for the fresh e-commerce sector as we work to bring healthy and safe products from around the globe to our online consumers.”
Alibaba-invested fresh food e-tailer Yiguo is also making its debut appearance at Asia Fruit Logistica, showcasing its new supply chain platform.
“Yiguo Group has been able to meet many fruit supply partners over the years and has brought its products to tens of millions of consumers through Tmall Fresh, Suning Fresh and new retail channels,” said Andy Zhang, vice-president of Yiguo Group’s Win-Chain Supply Chain Management. “This year, we have a new platform to connect our global fruit resources, Win-Chain. We look forward to meeting industry friends new and old at Asia Fruit Logistica, and to discussing our new platform with them.”
Other key e-commerce players are ramping up their presence at the Hong Kong show. A debut exhibitor in 2017, Beijing-based MissFresh is doubling the size of its stand this year.
More Middle East and Central Asian countries will also feature at this year’s show. Oman and Azerbaijan will both be exhibiting for the first time, while Jordan and the United Arab Emirates will be showcasing their wares again.
