Hong Kong International Food Tasting Festival 2025 opens with unexpectedly strong sales and crowds
The four-day Easter holiday kicked off yesterday (April 18), and while many Hong Kong residents took the opportunity to travel abroad or visit the mainland, a significant number chose to stay in the city, enjoying local festivities. One such event, the "Hong Kong International Food Tasting Festival 2025," held at the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, is running for five days and has attracted numerous families, many equipped with trolleys to shop and snack their way through the exhibition.
Several exhibitors interviewed by Wen Wei Po admitted they had underestimated the enthusiasm of local consumers, with sales surpassing expectations by 10-20%, and in some cases, even doubling. One exhibitor joked, "We've been so busy we haven't stopped for a moment, but we're happily exhausted!" Many attendees expressed their support for unique, locally hosted events, saying they bring vibrancy to the city.
This year's Festival marks its first return since the pandemic, featuring over 1,000 food brands from more than 30 countries and regions. Organizers reported that opening day attendance met expectations and projected more than 200,000 visitors across the event's duration.
Booths offering samples draw long queues
Reporters observed large crowds on-site, with long queues forming outside many booths. For instance, "Yip Cheong Food," offering free samples of traditional Shunde fish products, saw constant lines. Eddie, the founder of the company, remarked that the turnout was far beyond expectations, with sales exceeding forecasts by 10-20%. "We thought many people would travel during Easter, but it turns out many stayed in HK to spend. The average individual spend is over HK$200, so we'll need to adjust our staffing and inventory to meet demand for the coming days."
Sales surge by more than 20%: "Non-stop busy!"
Kson, a representative of "Pigsman," which specializes in unique pork cutlet dishes, said business exceeded expectations by about 40%. "We've been busy all day and will need to restock and increase staff," he said. "At past exhibitions, customer traffic came in waves, but this time, we've been non-stop."
Ms. Yau, a representative of "Juwan Trading," which provides free samples of Korean health foods, noted that she had rarely seen such a large crowd on the first day of previous food expos. "The customers' purchasing power is surprisingly strong, likely due to the organizers' extensive promotional efforts," she said.
International delights attract curious crowds
"Ajumma," a vendor offering free samples of Korean kimchi, participated in the event for the first time after years of attending exhibitions in Macao. Representative Ms. Chan expressed optimism about the strong turnout and the days ahead.
"Jakar Bata," a vendor offering free samples of Indonesia's famous civet coffee, saw sales surpass expectations by over 100%. Representative Ms. Chan said, "The crowd came early, and we'll bring more stock for the next few days."
Special sections of the exhibition featured exhibitors from Silk Road and Belt and Road countries, which also drew steady crowds. Anita, a representative of a Turkish organic food brand, observed that many visitors seemed eager to try new foods. "Perhaps they find it novel and want to taste things they've never seen before. After trying them, they're more likely to make a purchase," she said. She estimated the average individual spend at HK$100-200, with sales exceeding expectations by 20-30%.
Mr. Siu, a Muslim attendee, expressed appreciation for the availability of halal foods at the event. He hoped for further development of the halal food industry in HK. "There are relatively few halal restaurants in HK, and most of them are fast food," he said.
Ms. Yeung, who arrived at 10:30 a.m., had filled her trolley with purchases worth over HK$1,000 in just two hours. "I bought civet coffee with a rich aroma, Russian goat milk with high calcium content from a mainland brand, and fragrant matsutake mushrooms for making soup. These are all items I couldn't find elsewhere," she said. She also enjoyed German sausages and pork cutlet burgers for lunch, leaving the event with a full stomach and a full trolley.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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