The fifth edition of Speciality Food & Drinks Asia 2023 (SFDA), Southeast Asia’s leading trade show for artisan, gourmet, and fine food and beverages, has come to a successful close. Co-located with the second edition of takeaway and delivery exhibition Food2Go at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore, the three-day event attracted close to 7,000 attendees from 49 countries.
The Singapore Food and Beverage Association (SFDA) held its fifth edition, showcasing the latest innovations and products in the food and beverage industry. The event was attended by prominent figures such as MP Yeo Wan Ling, NTUC Director of U SME and U Women and Family, and Managing Director of Montgomery Asia, Christopher McCuin. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NTUC and the Singapore Coffee Association, aiming to improve workplaces for SMEs in the coffee industry. The event featured cooking demonstrations, food and drink tasting sessions, and a range of brews from various brands. The event was a success, with attendees enjoying cooking demonstrations and tasting sessions. The event also featured a range of brews from various brands, including Thoughtful Food Pte Ltd, The Water Sommelier, Global Good Plant Meat Pte Ltd, Mindful Drinks, Curated Culture, Curtice Brothers Natural Sauces, VektroPack, Ecospec NovelTech, Sanz Pte Ltd, and Smart Minds Holdings Limited.
Paponpat Piyakulwarasak, CEO of Hoshi Japanese Restaurant, attended the Singapore Food and Beverage Association’s (SFDA) event as a buyer from Thailand. The event provided a platform for networking and discovering new high-quality products from the Singapore market, which could benefit F&B owners. Food2Go, a co-located show, focused on the takeaway and delivery needs of the F&B industry, bringing together suppliers, distributors, technology providers, foodservice, retail, and hospitality professionals. The show provided innovative and sustainable solutions in food packaging, vending machines, and online ordering platforms, creating business opportunities in this fast-growing industry. Panel discussions at the Innovation Stage brought industry experts together to discuss challenges and opportunities in the F&B business landscape, including partnerships in the food delivery industry, dining reservation ethics, sustainable packaging technologies, and food security. Matt Kovac, CEO of Food Industry Asia, supported the development and implementation of science-based policies and regulations to foster sustainable growth in the rapidly evolving sector.
Celebrating outstanding F&B talents and innovations
SFDA 2023 hosted the finals of the first-ever Big Idea Food Competition (BIFC) by Big Idea Ventures – the most active FoodTech investor in the world. Aimed at building new innovative ecosystems, identifying world-class talent and investing in the future of food across Asia, the BIFC saw finalists pitch and present their alternative protein innovations to a panel of judges.
Singapore-based foodtech company Vitality Foods emerged as the winner of the ASEAN Butchery Competition, which showcased meat experts’ craftsmanship in carving and presentation. The company won a US$200,000 investment package and automatic enrollment into Big Idea Ventures’ Cohort #8 accelerator program. South Korean WEMEET came in second with mushroom-based meat alternatives, while Thailand’s Plant Origin placed third with rice bran protein. The first-ever ASEAN Butchery Competition, organized by Montgomery Asia and the Meat Traders Association Singapore, saw Butcher Box Singapore win the top place and a grand prize of S$5,000. Huber’s Butchery and Hilton Singapore took the first and second runner-up places, respectively. The Singapore National Coffee Championship 2023 concluded with four champions emerging in various coffee disciplines. Jervis Tan, the champion of the Singapore National Latte Art Championship 2023, secured a place as Singapore’s representative at the World Latte Art Championship 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. Courtney Kheng, Alistair Seetho, and Terence Tan also won the Santino Singapore National Barista Championship 2023, Singapore National Brewers Cup 2023, and Singapore Cup Tasters Championship 2023, representing Singapore in the World Coffee Championships 2024.
Strategic Partners, Supporting Partners & Sponsors
This year’s edition is supported by a host of leading industry associations and brands: its Strategic Partners – Meat Traders’ Association Singapore (MTA), Singapore Coffee Association (SCA) and Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA) – and the Strategic Partner of Food2Go – Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), as well as the following Supporting Partners – Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF), ASEAN Coffee Federation (ACF) along with its 10 country representatives, Asia-Pacific Society for Cellular Agriculture (APAC-SCA), Club Managers’ Association of Singapore (CMAS), Association of Catering Professionals of Singapore (ACAPS), Hospitality Purchasing Association Singapore (HPAS), Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), the Food Bank Singapore (FBSG), and many others.
Patrick Chan, President of the Association of Catering Professionals of Singapore, said: “As Singapore’s catering industry evolves, we strive to further develop the capabilities and professionalism of caterers and food suppliers. We are proud to be a Supporting Partner of SFDA 2023, which brought the F&B industry together for three days of learning, sharing and networking.”
Dennis Mark, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, said: “The SMF is pleased to be the strategic partner for Food2Go Asia 2023. This event has provided a collaborative platform for our members, the general public, and a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, foster innovation, and showcase the best of their products. It has proven to be an ideal arena for manufacturers, consumers, and both regional and international partners to convene, share cutting-edge innovations, and propagate ideas in product manufacturing and packaging technology. As we reflect on the success of 2023 and look forward to 2024, we see that this platform is a crucial avenue for us to reach our global audience. This is a perfect opportunity for more Singapore brands and companies to join us in this innovation journey, share their ideas, and propel their businesses onto the global stage. We look forward to Food2Go Asia 2024, with aspirations to make it even bigger and better.”
Expanding horizons and reuniting the industry in 2024
SFDA and Food2Go will return from 1 to 3 October 2024 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. Both events are must-attend platforms which will showcase the future of fine food and drinks, foodservice and takeaway and delivery services. For the latest updates and announcements, visit www.sfdasia.com.
