SIAL China 2021, one of the top three food and beverage professional showcase worldwide and an annual world food industry chain conference co-hosted by the Comexposium Group and the China Commerce Development Center, successfully concluded at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) on May 20, 2021. Covering an area of 180,000 square meters, it brought together more than 4,500 exhibitors from the four corners of the earth to display over 300,000 products, and driven by its comprehensive upgrading of exhibition services, the event saw a record number of 146,994 professionals. 

Stepping Up China-EU Trade Exchanges in Line with National Policy

As current global economic integration efforts show a positive outlook, SIAL China, built on China’s “domestic-international dual circulation” strategy, has unlocked opportunities for global food and beverage companies to integrate into the internal circulation setting and seek business development, enabling connectivity between China and the global market.

As an international trade platform that facilitates the development of the global food and beverage sphere, SIAL China has already been a messenger and evangelist in the industry. The second time the European Union (EU) participated as the guest of honor took the event by storm. By leveraging the space specifically for exhibiting China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications products, the EU allowed the exhibitors and visitors to experience the “European style” as well as “Chinese characteristics”.

Meeting of the Minds — Big Players in the Industry Attend Buzz-Worthy Activities

Running concurrently were also 10 major forums, sessions and competitions, including the Global New Retail Summit, Global Dairy Forum, International Meat Conference, China Catering Forum, Nutrition and Health Food Forum and Import Food Summit, which attracted 40,000 in-person visitors. At SIAL China 2021, these activities were also livestreamed and brought in millions of viewers from more than 200 countries and regions from around the world.

This year, the event invited 113 industry leaders and elites, such as Christopher Pissarides, winner of the 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, and Wu Xiaoqiu, an established Chinese economist, to give a few words behind the podium in ways that would explore and analyze multiple dimensions of industry trends, thus contributing to the future development of the industry. As if that were not enough, SIAL China released its White Paper on New Consumption Growth of Food and Beverage 2021 for the first time ever.

Furthermore, the winners of SIAL Innovation, an important event in the global food industry and an authoritative award, was announced at the scene, with the Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, the South Australian Gourmet Food Company and New Ascent Corporation claiming the Gold, Silver and Bronze. Other smash-hit activities like Celebrity Chefs, La Cuisine, 21 Health Food, D-Special Pressure Brewing and the LAS Coffee Event were launched to underpin the interactivity of the exhibition, allowing visitors to appreciate the temptations of food while ensuring the proximity between presenters and guests.

Using Advantages to Further Highlight Trade-Centric Label

With the global resources of Comexposium’s SIAL Network and the strong edge of its deep dedication to China for 22 years, SIAL China has brought together approximately 40,000 global exhibitors and over 1 million global professionals and built a complete business chain for China and even the global food and beverage industry, making it an internationally recognized trading platform among insiders. At the same time, SIAL China has been capturing the opportunities of global development to continuously unlock its four core values: 1) a large global platform, 2) the huge Chinese market, 3) digital and intelligent empowerment and 4) identity as a new ideological pacesetter. This has greatly contributed to the global development of China’s food and beverage industry. With SIAL China as a lever, the exhibitors shook up the world of food and beverage with great potential, reaching a number of business and trade agreements resulting in on-site cooperation signing ceremonies.

Meeting Demands with Record-High Numbers

Through industry and channel penetration based on its unique Match Me service, SIAL China was active in tapping into the needs of visitors and exhibitors, and its efforts thereby contributed to business matchmaking among nearly 2,000 pairs of specially invited buyers and exhibitors on the spot. Approximately 300 businesses notably offered business negotiation services, leading to agreements worth 1.5 billion yuan to that effect. To improve matchmaking efficiency, a business matchmaking area and a negotiation room for major buyers were set up at the scene for in-depth exchanges and business negotiations among hundreds of specially invited buyers and exhibitors, including Alibaba, Walmarket etc.

A notable achievement was the invitation of a targeted professional purchasing mission with a total of 3,000 members, which set a new record in terms of buyer-group size.

Open-Minded Planning for a Digital and Intelligent Tomorrow

With 22 years of effort and growth behind its belt, SIAL China has evolved into one of the top three food exhibitions in the world and continues to highlight its cross-border appeal under its aforementioned four core values. In the future, its goal is to enhance exchanges and cooperation among all parties by taking a more open and inclusive stance.

Last but not least, SIAL China South is scheduled for October 28–30 in Shenzhen this year. With continued dedication to the massive Chinese market, SIAL China is keeping the pulse on the “dual circulation” development paradigm in which the domestic market can reinforce the international market and vice versa. To build itself into the most valuable international trade platform with professional exhibition services for local Chinese businesses and buyers and to deliver optimal exhibition experiences to all visitors and potential partners shall thus always be the event’s continuous goal and relentless aim.