As FPJ heads off to man our first-ever stand at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong, it will be really interesting to witness how important this trade fair has managed to become in such a relatively short space of time.
At its inaugural outing in 2007, the event attracted more than 100 exhibitors and 3,000 visitors. Last year, that had risen swiftly to 215 exhibitors from 33 countries and more than 3,500 visitors from 57 countries - testament, no doubt, to the show’s growing reputation as the region’s key networking event. This year, footfall is expected to hit, if not exceed, last year’s levels.
Our feature on page 18 provides an overview of the opportunities available to Asian exporters on the UK fresh produce scene. While this is undoubtedly a tough time to be trying to break into new territories, there is no shortage of Asian exporters eyeing up the UK as a potentially lucrative market. Some countries face tougher hurdles than others in shipping to our shores, but China, Thailand and Vietnam, among others, have already made clear headway into the market and have gathered the support of some major retailers and wholesale markets. UK tastebuds are increasingly receptive to the wide range of exotics available from Asia, and the ethnic diversity of our population has also helped spur demand for produce from this region.
For those of you heading to Hong Kong, we look forward to seeing you there.
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