Koelnmesse says that it has opted to partner with the national trade body ahead of the 2009 Sweet China exhibition, which will overlap with the China Candy Festival, in a move it claims will better reflect both consumer and manufacturer developments in the country.
China potential
Citing official figures from China, the event organisers claim that the national confectionery industry has increased, on average, at a rate of 12.85 per cent for the last five years, six per cent above global growth over the same period.
“Industry reports indicate that the snack food industry accounts for more than ten percent in the business operations of supermarkets and large stores, ranking number one and the sales volume is more than five percent, ranking number three, which is only lower than frozen and health foods,” state the organisers.
Show overlap
The Sweet China trade event will kick off the joint focus at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, running between 22 to 24 October. The consumer-focused China Candy Festival then commences on 24 October and finishing a day later at the same venue.
“The exhibitors of China Candy Festival are the exhibitors of Sweets China, [which can opt] to extend their exhibit period to showcase to the public,” claim the organisers. “In reverse, the exhibitors of China Candy Festival will be incorporated into the exhibitor line-up at Sweets China."
In 2009, the event organisers claim growth in the national confectionery market is expected to be around eight per cent for the year, continuing to offer encouraging investment opportunities for multinational sweet makers.
Continuing changes to Chinese consumer demands, particularly in the market for convenience foods is expected to have a major impact on demand for packaging and other products, according to the event organisers.
“It is expected that confectionary packaging in China will continue its rising momentum, with a projected annual increment of seven per cent from 2006 to 2010 and six per cent from 2011 to 2015,” they state.