The FHA does many events in a year in many different locations. Thousands of people flock to every event they do, and the Discovering Hospitality team was no exception. Here’s a rundown of the team’s experience at the Food and Beverage Expo held in our South East Asian neighbor- Singapore!
From the registration alone, you could already tell that there would be a lot of different events going on simultaneously during the 4 days. So, let us break it down by showcasing some of the seminars and masterclasses that the team was able to attend and the overall experience.
First let’s start with the venue. The Singapore Expo center was an impressive venue with large grounds and a very convenient location. If you’ve never been to Singapore before, there’s truly no need to worry about how to reach this venue since there is a train stop right outside. The local train system is easy enough to navigate and learn, or you may also take a bus to the venue if that is more agreeable to you. Even on the very first day of the event, the DH team had no problems getting to and from the event location.
Inside the Expo grounds there was an open area with many food trucks if you wanted to sit down for a while. And if you wanted to have a late breakfast or a full spread for lunch then there was also a designated covered area outside the main building filled with many different foods and cuisine. The team was spoiled with choice when it came to the food since there was an array of Thai, Indian, Filipino, Singaporean food and many more along with the stands selling iced coffees, cold beers, and refreshing fruity drinks. Although the dining area was always filled with people, the turnover of the lunch crowds was quick enough that you could always find a place to sit. It became a quick reprieve from the humidity and even some afternoon tropical rain showers.
When entering the exhibition halls itself, it’s hard to see just how large the whole area is. It’s when you start to walk from one end of the venue to the other you will realize just how massive the whole event is. There were so many booths and some were clustered by country. There were booths representing the different areas within the hospitality industry, not just food and beverage brands and products but also importers, exporters, manufacturers, innovators and more. Some booths went above and beyond with their setups and decoration, from an energy drink with a giant alien looking balloon to cute and colorful ice cream stands and even a very Instagram worthy donut wall, there was so much to see!
A great feat of this event that was noticeable was their efforts in being green and sustainable. There were proper areas for different trash disposal. Usually we only see biodegradable and non-biodegradable or something similar, but in this event they went the extra mile. They had several recycling zones with trash bins that had different labels. They also showed exhibitors and visitors alike that their carpet was 100% recyclable. Their efforts for moving towards a more sustainable event was showcased by the entrance where everyone can see the event’s goals in terms of being more eco-friendly. It’s nice to see such a large event really take into consideration their waste and impact on the environment.
With regard to the events taking place during the expo, there were many stages set up in different parts of the venue. Each stage had a different agenda every day with different activities and seminars. There was so much to take in and a lot to learn from different sectors of the F&B industry. There were also several masterclasses hosted by ProWine Singapore. There were so many interesting classes to choose from and the DH team attended a few such as the Sherry Masterclass, where they learned about the history and the different kinds of Sherry wine, as well as a Tequila Masterclass where they learned how real tequila is made and produced. The masterclasses had minimal seats available which meant the classes were more intimate and the audience was able to ask questions and create discussion between the expert and the learners.
On the FHA stages there were many talks done by industry professionals and informative panel interviews. Some topics included the production, challenges, innovation and impact of producing alternative protein products, how the F&B industry affects the current climate crisis and aiming for a zero carbon footprint and many more. The talks not only tapped into the F&B industry but also how politics, culture, society, and environment come into play. There were even discussions about the changes in the market and the effect of Generation Z, as well as farming and research.
There was also a culinary competition by the Disciples Escoffier International in which several countries took part including the Philippines. The panel of judges were composed of internationally acclaimed judges and the programme focus was to highlight young talents and to impart knowledge to the younger generation. Visitors were able to see the young culinary talents at work and were even able to view the final dishes. On a different stage there was also an FHA Beer Awards that had 10 different categories and was judged through blind tastings by a panel of judges from local and international beer industry professionals.
There was a wealth of knowledge that was shared throughout the exhibition and many brands and countries showcasing their prized products and innovations. An overall well done event for not only industry leaders but also newcomers, and local visitors!
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