New food industry show for Africa hits the mark

The food and hospitality industry in Africa now has a highly focused and professional event to champion and showcase it – one that also opens routes to market throughout the continent and promotes real business growth and opportunity.  Food Hospitality World took place at the CTICC in Cape Town at the end of May and was a resounding success for all participants - the exhibitors, the visitors and the international buyers who came from other parts of Africa, the Far East and Europe.

“Feedback from everyone involved has been very positive”, says organiser Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa Director, Louise Cashmore.  “People have made good connections into the African market and the majority of exhibitors have generated more leads than they expected.”

Stan Hohowsky from Klein Karoo Ostrich Meat said: “Food Hospitality Africa was a great success in meeting the correct buyers to be able to export my product into African territories.”

Oakhurst Olives has connected with several serious buyers from all over Africa and, owner, Pieter du Toit said he did more business in one morning at Food Hospitality World than he could have hoped to have done in months of hard negotiations.  Ferrarini from Italy did well at the show and said that the investment of exhibiting in Africa is just about paid off.  The Western Cape Fine Foods Initiative and Food SA, which represented a total of 25 different Western Cape food products and companies, some of which had their own stands, said:  “We have found the quality of contacts to be absolutely impressive.  We think the organisers have done a great job in bringing the Food Hospitality World brand to our shores.  It has fresh and innovative concepts – such as the Buyers Lounge and the Lion’s Den - which have helped create business linkage and enabling platforms of a very high standard.  The fact that the show leads into the Good Food & Wine Show means that Food Hospitality World can only grow as the preferred trade show.  It’s a real bonus to participate in both shows in one week – the new Food Week.”

Roy Henderson from Green Cell Technologies says we need to stop talking about it but start doing something about food security. “The Food Hospitality World Africa conference was beneficial for us because we have now entered into serious discussions with a number of delegates who share our interest in providing actual, practical and commercial solutions to future food security. The conference gave us an opportunity to demonstrate a real world solution to a real world problem.”