Unlocking Growth: Bakery China 2024 Tackles Industry Challenges
The world’s largest bakery exhibition is back with bigger and better prospects for the entire bakery, confectionery, beverages and fine foods industry in China and across the world. This year, Bakery China is scheduled to take place from May 21-24, in Shanghai.
In an exclusive interview for European Baker & Biscuit, Lynn Lin, General Manager of Bakery Exhibitions CO., Ltd, shared with us a few insights on the upcoming trade fair and the challenges it had to overcome as well as the long-awaited opportunities it brings for the industry.
- Can you tell us what your expectations are for this edition of Bakery China?
Bakery China, as the world’s largest and Asia Pacific’s leading professional bakery exhibition, is scheduled to take place from May 21-24, 2024 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. Over 400,000 professional visitors from over 130 countries and regions are expected to join 2,200 exhibitors onsite. The scale of the show reaches 320,000 square-meters, expanded by 20% since last year, with the international exhibition area further increased by 50%. More than 5,000 international visitors have already pre-registered 2-months before the show, which is another new record. Once again, China’s bakery market is proving to be one of the largest and most promising in the world.
- What are some of the novelties this edition brings for visitors?
Bakery China stands as a pivotal platform, fostering innovation and propelling the bakery industry toward high-quality development and industrial advancement. This year’s edition, fueled by industry insights, spotlights five key consumption trends: pre-made bakery, healthy bakery options, bakery plus concepts, OEM and private label services, and the integration of dairy products.
The surge in demand for pre-made bakery products takes center stage, with over 300 domestic and international companies set to unveil their latest offerings at Bakery China 2024. This segment’s exponential growth within the food industry prompts an array of immersive experiences, live streaming sessions, and an online e-commerce festival aimed at captivating industry professionals, providing them with firsthand encounters of innovation within the bakery sector.
Moreover, Bakery China spearheads the drive towards healthier bakery options, recognizing the evolving consumer expectations for products that meet various nutritional and well-being needs. Emphasizing low-fat, low-sugar, and low-calorie offerings, the event showcases innovative solutions tailored to the burgeoning demand for healthier consumption habits. The Bakery China Innovation Award, concurrently running, underscores health as a pivotal criterion, inspiring industry stakeholders to pioneer sustainable and nutritious bakery solutions.
Cross-border synergies and business innovations take flight with the “Bakery +” trend, as Bakery China serves as a launchpad for inventive products combining bakery items with coffee, beverages, ice cream, and snacks. This expansion of the industry value chain fosters collaboration across borders and industrial segments, epitomizing the event’s commitment to driving incremental growth through integration.
The introduction of the OEM and Private Brand zone at Bakery China signifies a monumental shift in the consumption landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for brand development and innovation. With consumer demand becoming increasingly diverse and personalized, private brands emerge as a potent force, leveraging market insights and rapid response capabilities to meet evolving needs.
Finally, Bakery China 2024 unveils a dedicated dairy products area, showcasing the application and innovation of dairy within the bakery industry. With participation from top global dairy companies like Lactalis, Nestle, and Yili, alongside emerging players, the exhibition spotlights the pivotal role of dairy in energizing innovation and upgrading the bakery industry.
- What would you consider to be some of the most pressing challenges the industry currently faces, and how does the Bakery China trade show help bakers address some of them?
China’s bakery market is one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world with a projected CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2028 according to Euromonitor. To meet with China’s growing consumption needs, the demand for healthier and higher-quality ingredients, and for increasingly efficient and advanced equipment and technology will also grow significantly. It means China’s bakery market welcomes more and more international brands besides the domestic solutions. Bakery China offers a collaborative space for all participants to access global innovation and the opportunity to share innovative concepts and align business objectives, fostering the sustainable growth of the bakery sector.
Read the rest of the interview in our new supplement, Asia Pacific Overview.