SA businesses arrive in Japan for Foodex exhibition

Thirty businesses which will showcase some of the best South African food products and beverages at the Foodex exhibition have arrived in Japan.

The business persons who are supported by the Department of trade and industry will showcase food and drinks at the 44^th Foodex exhibition.

The show is designed to create a platform where participants can expand their business and exchange information on the new trends regarding the global food industry.

The owner of Winston & Julia, Wlhelmina Jerman explained that she was looking ahead to show case her chocolate products at the fair.

She said she anticipates making key contacts and building relationships with good importers and distributors.

According to her: “I will be very excited if we do get an order. We put a lot of focus on beautiful packaging for our products and for the Japanese market beautiful packaging is crucial. Our products should be spot on for this market. I am also very excited to see what the rest of the world is offering at Foodex”.

Jerman noted that her company was participating in the exhibition for the first time and she is sure she will get good results in terms of orders, this will lead to the expansion of the business and job creation.

The Director of Lentibex, an organic vegetable business manufacturing macadamia nuts, oil and butter, Thabo Mooketsi was anxious of establishing a new market and distribution channels for exporting his products to boost his business profile as he planned to expand his market base.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies described Japan as a traditional key trading partner to South Africa in the world with the annual total trade of about R90 billion over the past five years.

He highlighted that agricultural trade with Japan has increased from R2.4 billion in 2013 to R2.7 billion in 2017. According to him, this was a positive indicator that South African products were an interest in the Japanese market.