Now in it's 14th successful year, FHC China returns to Shanghai between 10 and 12 November, for a three-day trade event, showcasing every conceivable food and beverage item, for the hospitality and retail sectors.

“It's an industrial trade exhibition for manufacturers and producers, and traders of every kind of food and beverage – and hospitality equipment – who wishes to sell that product into the China market,” explains Brendan Jennings, General Manager of China International Exhibitions Ltd. “Buyers can come and see the widest range of imported food products ever assembled in China, over three days, at one venue in Shanghai,” he continues.

More than 1,000 companies from 72 countries will exhibit at this year's event, which is held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre – the city's largest purpose-built exhibition hall. A further 93 registered importers will be in attendance, and an estimated 20,000 trade visitors are expected over the three day event.

Buyers from every sector of the hospitality and retail trade flock to the show, which was first held in Beijing in 1994. “The exhibition is very appropriate for buyers from the hospitality sector,” says Jennings. “That includes hotels, restaurants, general and institutional caterers. It's also an exhibition which is suitable for supermarket buyers, retailers, wholesalers, and of course, one of the most important categories in China, importers and distributors.”

The products displayed at the pavilions very much reflects the national identity of the country, Jennings told TALK. Taiwan Region has the largest presence at this year's show, occupying nearly 1,500 square metres of the exhibition hall, and featuring 160 companies showcasing everything from confectionery, to fresh fruit and vegetables, rice products to seafood. The second largest pavilion at the event belongs to Spain, who Jennings describes as “very strong in wine, olive oils and Jamon” – the famous Spanish ham. “All the pavilions have something unique,” he says. “The Italian pavilion draws you in with it's sophisticated products, the Singaporean pavilion with it's exotic foods, the US with it's fast foods. On and on it goes, as you wander through the halls.”

In addition to the vast array of food, beverages and hospitality equipment showcased, FHC also hosts a series of culinary events and competitions to further attract potential buyers. “We have a long list of competitions, seminars and activities, which are all focused on different sectors of the industry,” Jennings explains. Main attractions include the ever-popular ice-cream 'university', which holds seminars on the making, storage and marketing of good ice cream.

The middle hall is home to all things wine-related, (wine being one of the fastest growing sectors of the food industry in China). Buyers can sample wines featured in the recently held China Sommeliers Wine Challenge, in the specially designated Sommeliers Lounge, while the wine theatre hosts a series of seminars presented by wine producers from Austria , France and Spain, for hotel and restaurant beverage managers.