As Pandemic Fades, Attendance Rises at Seoul Food 2022
Seoul Food and Hotel 2022 (Seoul Food 2022)
KINTEX Korea
2022 June 7th to 10th
http://www.seoulfoodnhotel.co.kr/main/main.php
Co-located Event: Seoul Food, Seoul FoodPack Seoul Foodtech, Seoul Horecatech Seoul, Food Safety.
The Seoul Food Show has successfully represented, developed and supported the domestic food industry in Korea for 40 years. Interestingly, Seoul Food 2022 was held just outside of Seoul at KINTEX, Korea’s largest exhibition center.
By size alone, Seoul Food is the largest food & beverage exhibition in Korea. The exhibition does not only display food & beverage products but also related products and equipment such as food technology manufacturing equipment, food packing equipment and more. Approximately 700 food and beverage companies and about 200 equipment companies exhibited at the 2022 Seoul Food show.
While COVID-19 heavily affected participation for all exhibitions over the past two years, the Seoul Food 2022 exhibition halls were crowded with visitors from all over the country and the world. There were large booths for companies from the U.S., Canada, Thailand, Spain, and other countries. During the pandemic, most foreign companies and organizations were represented by third-party companies or Korean partners. However, for the Seoul Food 2022 foreign companies were able to visit Korea for the show and visitors were able to interact directly with company representatives.
The show revealed a few trends. The pandemic flagged the importance of the immune system and health issues, leading to an increased demand for healthy food. New types of alternative foods that exclude meat and sugar attracted attention. Alternative food booths were some of the hottest booths, with people waiting in line to taste new types of meat alternatives on offer at the show.
There were a large number of companies promoting home meal replacement (HMR) products and frozen goods. The simple and easy-to-prepare food sectors have been growing with the increase of single or double-income households who spend limited time on food preparation. With COVID-19 social restrictions and the fear of infection, the demand for home cooking increased, prompting companies to develop and provide greater varieties of easy-to-prepare and high-quality HMR.
There were also other attractions on site such as the Korea Coffee Championship and Live Commerce Sales Competition. These events added to the overall show, providing extra entertainment for visitors to enjoy something different.
Watching visitors pour into the exhibition halls, it seems that the pandemic is hopefully coming to an end and new opportunities will soon be opening in the market. The Seoul Food Show is an annual event that provides a great place to promote products to the Korean market while interacting with companies, consumers and potential clients from all over the country. However, it is also important to understand that Korea’s mature economy means that its markets are not the easiest to penetrate. Prior to entering the market, it is crucial to obtain an accurate understanding of the domestic market, including size and volume, regulations, non-tariff barriers, fast-changing trends and other product and sector-specific information.
IRC Consulting has 40 years of Korea-focused experience assisting foreign companies to identify opportunities and successfully achieve their goals in this vibrant market. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the Korean market.
For more information on Korea’s F&B market please visit:
Korea’s Pickier Food Consumption Through the Lens of COEX Food Week 2021
https://ircconsultingkorea.com/market-insights/?vid=49
Techtonic Shift of Korean Food culture
https://ircconsultingkorea.com/market-insights/?board_page=2&vid=25
Food Delivery - Restaurant to your door
https://ircconsultingkorea.com/market-insights/?board_page=3&vid=12
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