Trade delegation promotes Taiwanese food products in Toronto

A delegation of food industry representatives organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) arrived in Toronto Thursday to promote Taiwanese food products.

The Taiwan Trade Office in Toronto held a trade meeting that same day to bring Taiwanese food producers and local retailers together to give them the opportunity to sign deals.

The delegation included representatives of various food industry associations, including the Taiwan Confectionary, Biscuit and Floury Food Industry Association and the Taiwan Regional Association of Frozen Vegetable and Fruit Manufacturers.

It also included representatives of 18 leading Taiwanese food manufacturers, including Uni-President Enterprises Corp., Ten Ren Tea Co., Yeou Bin Food Industry Co. and Young Sun Frozen Foods Co., who promoted snack foods, health foods, frozen fruit and vegetables, organic food, cookies, noodles, condiments and a variety of other Taiwanese products.

The Taiwan Trade Center invited major food importers in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as leading supermarkets and retailers, including Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro and Wal-Mart Canada, to take part in the meeting.

According to government statistics, Canada's food retail market amounts to about $100C billion ($300NT.7 billion) per year, with Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro enjoying a combined 53 percent share of the market.

Thursday's trade meeting brought together 46 food industry businesses from Taiwan and Canada, and about 150 one-on-one meetings to discuss potential deals were held through the course of the day.

Kevin Wei, director of the Taiwan Trade Center in Toronto, said that demand for Asian food products has risen in the local market in recent years with the steady increase in the Asian immigrant population.

Major supermarkets have responded to this demand by selling a greater variety of Asian food products, he went on, adding that this, coupled with consumers' greater concern for food safety and the reputation for safety enjoyed by Taiwanese food products gives great opportunities for Taiwanese food manufacturers to grab a larger share of the Canadian market.

In 2007, Canada imported more than $40C.43 million ($39US.97 million)-worth of food products from Taiwan.

Wei noted that TAITRA holds some 30 trade fairs in Taipei City each year, including the Taipei International Food Show.

This year's Taipei food fair, held at the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall June 18-21, attracted a record-high 768 food manufacturers manning 1,609 booths.

A total of 27 national pavilions were set up at the fair, including a Canadian one that represented 34 food manufacturers displaying a variety of Canadian food and beverage products, ranging from ice wine, maple syrup and blueberries to beef and health foods.

Source by mbtmag.com