The inaugural SIGEP Asia opens with a fanfare today along with the 5th edition of Restaurant Asia to mark a crucial three-day gathering of F&B industry players, trade visitors from Singapore, ASEAN and around the world
The first-ever SIGEP Asia was officially opened on 26 June 2024, together with Restaurant Asia 2024, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre (Halls D, E, and F) at the iconic Marina Bay Sands. The official opening of the mega co-located shows was graced by Guest of Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Culture.
At the official opening, the F&B Industry Jobs Portal (FABjobs, www.fabjobs.sg) was unveiled to address the ongoing challenges in the industry. As manpower continues to be a perennial issue for the F&B sector, particularly in attracting locals to join the industry, the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) responded to this pressing challenge by launching FABjobs which is solely dedicated to the F&B industry.
The portal is designed with an employer-centric approach, allowing F&B companies to customise and highlight their unique employee value propositions to attract the right talents. This initiative underscores RAS' commitment to addressing manpower challenges and enhancing the attractiveness of careers in the F&B industry.
SIGEP Asia is the new satellite trade show of the internationally renowned SIGEP World in Rimini, held from 26 to 28 June 2024. The show is presented by IEG Asia, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.
SIGEP, with a 45-year history of inspiring the foodservice community as the most dynamic event for the industry, appeals to international professionals from the worlds of artisan gelato, pastry, chocolate, coffee and bakery as the global reference point for the dolce foodservice industry with exclusive insights into future shifting trends, unexplored tastes and technology trends.
SIGEP Asia is held in conjunction with the 5th edition of Restaurant Asia, and co-located with IEG Asia's recently acquired series of food and beverage (F&B) trade shows Speciality Food & Drinks Asia (SFDA), Speciality Coffee & Tea Asia (SCTA), and takeaway and delivery exhibition Food2Go. The mega platform hosts some 10,000 trade visitors, buyers, and over 300 exhibitors and brands from 30 countries and regions. In keeping with its promise of excellence for the foodservice industry, an expansive three-day programme is curated for the event’s trade visitors and buyers.
Trade visitors to the show will have the rare opportunity to meet the masters and Chefs from Italy and the region at the SIGEP Sessions over two days of intense masterclasses and demonstrations on gelato, artisanal breads, gourmet desserts, pizza and the pairing of beverages and fine dining. Attendees will learn from experts including Matteo Cunsolo, President of the Richemont Club Italy; Eduardo Villar, Vice President of International Union of Bakers & Confectioners; José María Fernández del Vallado, General Secretary also of the International Union of Bakers & Confectioners; Chef Antonio Danise of the Italian Federation of Chefs; Eugenio Morrone, Master Gelato Maker; Giuseppe Piffaretti, Creator of Panettone World Cup; and Chefs John See and Winston Lau of Mindful Sparks (https://sigepasia.com.sg/event/sigep-sessions/).
RAS Leadership Symposium 2024, ‘Building Your Dream Culture’ was a key highlight at the event on 26 June, organised by Restaurant Association of Singapore and headlined by Will Scott, the Author & Founder of The Culture Fix®. who has helped hundreds of businesses fulfill their corporate culture dreams.
Board Meeting of the ASEAN Restaurant Associations Alliance (ARAA) which was formed to further bolster relationships and opportunities in ASEAN. This Alliance unites the restaurant associations in ASEAN, presenting an important marketplace for the industry, serving as a gateway to new markets and supply chains in the region through Restaurant Asia and also SIGEP Asia, the expositions organised to gather the industry across borders in the fast-growing ASEAN region. Through this Alliance, the parties hope to create reciprocal benefits across the ASEAN F&B sectors.
Following the announcement of the strategic partnership between the International Food & Beverage Association (IFBA) and IEG Asia for SIGEP Asia 2024 to provide a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas, networking, and celebrating sector achievements, IFBA will hold its Roundtable 2024 focused on leadership and innovation (https://sigepasia.com.sg/event/ifba-roundtable/).
The Singapore Coffee Association’s staging of the Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC) presenting four competitions, namely the Singapore National Barista Championship (SNBC), Singapore National Latte Art Championship (SNLAC), Singapore National Brewers Cup (SBRC), and the Singapore Cup Tasters Competition (SCTC). The national champions will represent Singapore on the world stage at the World Coffee Championship 2025 in Milan (https://sigepasia.com.sg/event/singapore-national-coffee-championship/).
The Technology & Innovation Pavilion and Sandbox, a showcase of new technologies for F&B operations and also to contribute to a more sustainable future for the industry (https://sigepasia.com.sg/event/technology-innovation-pavilion/)
A hosted buyers’ programme to connect with top-level decision-makers in the foodservice sectors across ASEAN and APAC. The programme is the gateway to bespoke B2B meetings meticulously tailored to meet the specific business and sourcing needs of trade buyers from restaurants, cafes, bakeries, cocktail bars, gelateria businesses and more.
Chef’s Table by-invitation luncheon for networking of the senior leadership of the F&B industry from Singapore and ASEAN including the visiting delegates from the ASEAN Restaurant Associations Alliance (ARAA).
According to Mrs Ilaria Cicero, Chief Executive Officer of IEG Asia, “We are thrilled to officially open the doors of the inaugural SIGEP Asia and the fifth edition of Restaurant Asia, bringing together industry leaders, trade visitors, buyers, and exhibitors from Singapore, ASEAN, and around the world.” She added, “This event marks a significant milestone for the F&B industry, providing an unparalleled platform for innovation, collaboration, and the sharing of expertise. We are excited to see the connections and opportunities emerging over the next three days as we continue to drive the industry to greater heights.”
Strategic partnerships
The Italian Trade Agency is participating in the event with a dedicated Lounge to host the Italian clientele. The Italian Chamber of Commerce Singapore is a strategic partner of IEG Asia to foster stronger ties between Italy and Asia’s culinary industries. Both parties are committed to promoting the events, facilitating networking, inviting buyers, and encouraging cultural exchange. SIGEP Asia is also supported by Singapore Airlines as its Official Airline, and Hotel Planner as its Official Accommodation Partner.
SIGEP Asia: A global gathering hub for all things F&B
The first-ever SIGEP Asia, co-located with the 5th edition of Restaurant Asia, SFDA, SCTA, and Food2Go attracted over 11,000 trade visitors and brought together over 320 brands from more than 30 countries and regions. Encompassing the F&B and Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering (Ho.Re.Ca.) industries, the combined events brought together leading global and Asian industry players and hosted fringe events such as the RAS Leadership Symposium and seminars, masterclasses and tasting sessions with Italian Chefs and Boncafe.
A diverse mix of exhibitors, from established global players to exciting homegrown artisanal producers, showcased their F&B products and food service technologies, and country pavilions displayed goods from countries such as Italy, Kuwait, China, Malaysia, Japan and Mexico. Leading tech companies at the Technology & Innovation Pavilion also showcased their food service technologies that would help the industry boost operational efficiency, enhance customer experience and work towards a more sustainable future.
SNCC: Singapore’s flagship competition for the coffee industry
The Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC), staged by the Singapore Coffee Association at SCTA over three days, saw 70 participants showcase their skills and passion for coffee making and clinch championship titles in four categories: the Singapore National Barista Championship (presented by Santino), Singapore National Brewers Cup (presented by TIMEMORE), Singapore National Latte Art Championship and Singapore Cup Tasters Championship.
The SNCC is the flagship national competitive event for Singapore’s coffee industry and is aimed at raising the profile of the barista profession, promoting best practices in coffee preparation, and encouraging local baristas to continually improve their craft. The winner of each category at SNCC 2024 will go on to represent Singapore globally at the World Coffee Championships, which will be held on three continents in 2025.
The champions for each category are:
Singapore National Barista Champion: Wong Ruoqi (Chris), Head of Coffee at Santino
Singapore National Brewers Cup Champion: Elysia Tan, Director of Homeground Coffee Roasters
Singapore National Latte Art Champion: Tan Jia Min, Barista at The Populus: Coffee & Food Co.
Singapore Cup Tasters Champion: Tan Yi Xin, Barista at Starbucks Coffee Singapore
The winners of each category will represent Singapore on the global stage at the World Coffee Championships, spanning three continents in 2025.
Putting Singapore’s coffee culture on the world map
Events such as the SCTA and SNCC shine a spotlight on Singapore's coffee talents and are a true testament to the country's growing coffee culture.
"The calibre of talent displayed at the SNCC this year was truly remarkable. Each and every participant showcased exceptional technical skills, as well as a deep understanding and appreciation for coffee. Their dedication to their craft is truly inspiring, and we are confident they will represent Singapore proudly at the World Coffee Championships. I’d like to thank our judges, hailing from Singapore, Australia, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, for sharing their time and expertise, and my team at SCA for organising the event and ensuring that the four competitions ran smoothly," said Victor Mah, President of the Singapore Coffee Association.
An array of speciality coffee brands and products, including coffee machines, grinders, pour-over kettles, drippers, beans and pods, were exhibited at SCTA, from local and global brands such as TIMEMORE, DASHER Singapore, Allpress Espresso, Sapori Italiani, Huggs Coffee, Blu Coffee, Beijing Guixia Legend Trading, Glyph Supply Co, MHW-bomber, Prefer and Mii FoodService, and more.
“It has been thrilling to host the SNCC at SCTA within our first-ever SIGEP Asia edition, exposing Singapore’s talents to the world and also showcasing Singapore's passion for the F&B industry to a global audience. We are proud to have provided a platform where exceptional talent can shine and inspire others. This is truly what SIGEP represents – a world expo for food service excellence – and we look forward to bridging more communities across continents,” said Ilaria Cicero, CEO of IEG Asia and organiser of the events.
SIGEP Asia
Restaurant Asia
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