Vietnamese firms specialising in rice, coffee and spices are taking part in the 2018 Specialty and Fine Food Asia (SFFA 2018), which opened yesterday in Singapore.

The fair has drawn the participation of nearly 200 businesses from 20 countries and territories worldwide.

David Kwok, business manager at Co May Company, which ships rice from Viet Nam to Singapore, said Vietnamese rice has become more popular in Singapore. The company’s imports of Vietnamese rice have tripled since two years ago.

Vietnamese rice was being sold at supermarkets and food centres across Singapore to meet the increasing demand of local consumers, he noted, adding that the rice would be introduced at upcoming international exhibitions to promote the brand and expand markets.

As one of the leading exhibitions in the region, SFFA 2018 is an important trade platform for fine food producers and purveyors to meet distributors, retailers, restaurant owners and chefs. Creative ideas and modern equipment in the food manufacturing sector are also on show at the event.

More than 160 firms from 30 countries and territories attended the event last year, with nearly 3,000 visitors. — VNS