SIAL Shenzhen 2024 set for September 2-4

SIAL Shenzhen 2024, one of the largest international food and beverage exhibitions in South China, will be held at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center in Futian from September 2 to 4.

This year's event is expected to attract more than 1,500 exhibitors from 43 countries and regions with more than 100,000 "novelty" products,  according to the organizers.  

Meanwhile, more than 67,000 industry professionals from more than 70 countries and regions are expected to visit this year’s exhibition.

The exhibition will cover 14 categories of food and beverage products, including meat, dairy, agricultural products, beverages, sweets, snacks, groceries, preserves, frozen foods, ready meals, fruit and vegetables, condiments, aquatic products, organic products and dietary products. It will also be hosted concurrently with other events, including the SIAL Global Food Industry Summit and SIAL Innovation, according to the organizers.

A key element of SIAL exhibitions has been to provide efficient business  matchmaking services for exhibitors and professional buyers. In additional to a physical trade show, SIAL Shenzhen will offer an online marketplace and an integrated matchmaking solution that will enable  exhibitors and visitors to “meet” all year around.

As one of the most open and economically vibrant regions in China, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), which includes Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, has become a strategic hub connecting domestic and international markets — and Shenzhen's central geographical location and robust economic strength make it a crucial part of this flourishing region.

According to latest data by China’s largest food delivery platform Meituan, the number of young population aged between 14 and 35 in Shenzhen exceeds 8 million, young people aged 20-35 years, who have strong food consumption power, account for 72% of the young population in the city,  ranking the highest among cities nationwide.

SIAL Shenzhen takes advantage of Shenzhen’s location in GBA to serve the South China market and helps facilitate the entry of international food and beverage brands and products into South China's booming market,  thereby creating numerous business opportunities for exhibition participants.

Meanwhile,  Shenzhen also plays an important role in food firms’ push into  Southeast Asia market. According to trade data released by Shenzhen  Customs, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained  Shenzhen's largest trading partner with a total import and export value  of 313.10 billion yuan (US$43.68 billion) in the first five months of 2024, marking a 55.8% year-on-year increase.

A survey conducted among exhibitors after SIAL Shenzhen 2023 demonstrated that the South China market is the primary target area for domestic exhibitors, representing 71.82% of those surveyed, while international  exhibitors also showed considerable interest, with a rate of 40.91%.

For food and beverage firms, SIAL Shenzhen serves as an optimal platform to expand into the South China region and at the same time connect with ASEAN member countries.

SIAL Shenzhen is organized by the SIAL Network, one of the largest trade show networks in the agri-food sector. Founded in 1964 in Paris, the Salon International de l'Alimentation (SIAL) was created to bring together key players in the food industry to foster business, discover the latest  market trends and promote innovation.

In the decades since its creation, SIAL, which is a proprietary brand of Comexposium Group, has expanded beyond Paris to become a global network and has launched shows in various strategic locations around the world.

Comexposium introduced SIAL to China in 2000 and SIAL China consists of two shows: SIAL Shanghai and SIAL Shenzhen, which are held annually in May and September.

SIAL Shanghai has been held since 2000 and has become one of SIAL's three major food exhibitions. Since 2022, thanks to growing demand, SIAL Shenzhen has been created to fully meet the expectations of the Chinese market. Positioned as the "SIAL global expo for engaging with the world," SIAL Shenzhen aims to attract worldwide attention and focus on the development of the Greater Bay Area.

Each year, the exhibition showcases new food and beverage products from various countries and regions. With a wealth of high-quality buyer resources, the exhibition facilitates face-to-face exchanges between buyers and exhibitors, boosting on-site orders and uncovering business opportunities.

The success of the previous exhibitions has proven that SIAL Shenzhen is a vital bridge connecting international and domestic food and beverage industry professionals. It provides exhibitors with business opportunities and serves as an excellent venue for enhancing brand  influence and keeping pace with ever-changing industry trends.

With Shenzhen’s prominent position in the Greater Bay Area and global food and beverage markets, SIAL Shenzhen has become an important event for food manufacturers, dealers, importers, wholesalers and retailers.