Cover CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan at the IFEX Media Preview

Philippine food goes global at the 13th edition of the country's biggest food and beverage trade show

Filipino food is currently in its ascendant in the global gastronomy scene, what with the recent inclusion of Toyo Eatery in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for this year, Filipino-American chef Tom Cunanan's win in the 2019 James Beard Awards, and the way Filipino dishes have been presented and reinvented on such global shows as Top Chef and Masterchef. All these add resonance to the theme for this year's International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines: NXTFOOD Asia.

Slated for 24 to 26 May 2019 at the World Trade Centre in Pasay City, this year's event marks the 13th edition of what is considered the largest food and beverage trade show in the country. According to Pauline Suaco-Juan, executive director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)'s Centre for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), IFEX Philippines 2019 seeks to answer the question "What's NXT in the world of food?" by showcasing the country's Premium 7 export ingredients (bananas, cacao, coconuts, coffee, mangoes, pineapple, and tuna), items that are considered rising stars in global gastronomy, as well as innovations developed by local entrepreneurs for both domestic and global trade.

Tatler Asia
Above A select array of locally developed and produced items made with key domestic ingredients

"As in editions past, this year's show is also our way of inviting buyers and visitors to experience Philippine hospitality at its finest," Suaco-Juan says of the upcoming event, noting that it will also serve as a platform on which to showcase the country's diverse food exports, as well as emerging culinary trends, best practices, and industrial innovations to potential buyers from here and overseas. "Global culinary masters, F&B/hospitality practitioners, and food enthusiasts will be given access to the colours, flavours, and textures that make Filipino food the next big thing in Asian cuisine." 

IFEX Philippines 13 will feature several exhibitions which are meant to highlight the best of local ingredients, along with a variety of items from neighbouring countries within the greater Asian region. These include:

  • Islands on a Plate  This unique pavilion literally gives guests a taste of different regional dishes and locally-made food products as a way of gaining insight regarding the diverse cuisines of the country's various provinces;
  • The Cold Room: Seafood at Sub-Zero  Making its debut at this year's event, this refrigerated zone presents a wealth of locally sourced seafood, including prime tuna from the Southern Philippines, as well as other high-value marine products;
  • Tropical Wines and Spirits  A showcase of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic Philippine-made beverages where guests can also enjoy bartending displays, wine sampling, and cocktail mixing demonstrations;and 
  • Food Philippines  A premier venue for Filipino food brands that have a growing presence in the global market.

In addition, a number of seminars regarding the food export industry will be held throughout the duration of the event to enlighten local entrepreneurs about the latest trends and issues impacting the field. IFEX Philippines will also double as the launch venue for the DTI's Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) initiative, a PhP 3.7-billion project that aims to propel agriculture-based processing enterprises and entrepreneurial communities to become innovative, productive, and competitive in the constantly evolving global marketplace.

For more information regarding IFEX Philippines 2019, visit the official website at www.ifexphilippines.com.