The Seoul Food 2019, the 37th rendition of the fair, is one of Asia’s four largest food exhibitions. The exhibition is designed to build global value chain of the whole of the food industry and help SME and mid-size superstar food companies tap overseas markets.
About 1,500 exhibitors from 40 countries, including those in Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, participated in the Seoul Food 2019. Spectators at the fair were given the opportunity to look at global food trends.

First through fifth hall of the first exhibition center were the venues of fairs such as the Seoul International Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries & Processed Food Exhibition, the Seoul International Food Materials & Addictives Exhibition, the Seoul International Health Function & Organic Farming Fair, Seoul International Desert & Beverage Fair, and the Seoul International Hotel & Restaurant Equipment Fair.

The seventh and eighth hall of the 2nd Exhibition Center were the venues of the Seoul International Food Equipment Fair and the Seoul International Package Fair. KOTRA provided support for holding one-on-one meetings between Korean firms and foreign buyers with high buying power, designed by KOTRA’s 124 overseas branches.

One-on-one meetings for buyers from the Korean distribution sector also took place. The Seoul Food 2019 also coincided with the Global Trend & Tech Conference 2019 (GFTT 2019), the Seoul Food Awards 2019, Culinary Challenger 2019, Wine Tasting Pavilion and other events.

GFTT Held under Theme “Discovery-The Adventurous Consumer”

KOTRA hosted the Global Trend & Tech Conference 2019 (GFTT 2019) at the first exhibition hall grand ballroom of KINTEX on May 21, an opening ceremony event of the Seoul Food 2019 that took place at KINTEX from May 21 to May 24.

Participants at the GFTT 2019 were given the chance to have an insight into global food trends as well as the past, present and future of the global food tech industry. The conference was held under the theme “Discovery-The Adventurous Consumer.” The GFTT 2019 was divided into three sessions – innovation, insight, and market.

Chairman Patrick Mannion of the global food & beverage market survey firm Innova Market Insight gave a key-note speech at the conference, and other global food company CEOs also participated.

In the innovation session, Mariliis Holm, head of the Food Science Division at Finless Food gave lecture on the development of alternative meat food products while Judy Kim, senior manager of global sales & marketing savory at the Bio Business Unit of CJ Cheiljedang, spoke about innovation of seasoning materials.

In the second insight session, Riana Lynn, founder of Journey Foods, touched on the 4th Industrial Revolution while Rootility CEO Limor Zur Stoller spoke about farm innovation. Jordan Tetrick, director of business development at JUST, gave lecture on “creative foods.” Speakers of the last market session were Jamospfoam Alias, vice president of Halal Industry Development Corp. (HDC) in Malaysia,; Michelle Lee, regional marketing leader of ASEAN, DuPont Nutrition &Biosience about aging,; and JB Rhyu, founder & CEO of MESH Korea about trends.