Coex Breaks New Ground at the 1st Vietnam Coffee and Dessert Fair
The smell of coffee, baked goods, and other confectionary delights drifted through the halls of the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center this June 8th – 10th as Coex celebrated the opening of its brand new Vietnam International Coffee and Dessert Fair. The debut show saw a number of firsts for both Coex and the supporting partners of the show.
The opening of the Vietnam Coffee and Dessert Fair marked the first B2B coffee exhibition co-hosted with the Vietnam Cacao and Coffee Association (VICOFA), which helped bring over 100 domestic companies to exhibit at the show and more than 20,000 visitors.
The show also saw Vietnam’s very first barista competition, the Vietnam Super Barista Championship. The competition brought together the best baristas in the country in a competition to discover the best brew master. Organized by Coex, the Saigon Bartenders Association, and Tan Nhat Huong Bakery, the event offered a total prize purse of $3,000 USD. The Vietnam Super Barista Championship is an extension of the success of Coex’s homegrown coffee show, Coffee Expo Seoul, where the World Super Barista Championship is held. Winners of the Vietnamese show will be flown to Seoul next April to compete in the World Super Barista Championship 2017 at Coffee Expo Seoul.
The Vietnam Coffee and Dessert Fair also saw Coex participate in organizing the first Lucky Bag event alongside the charity KOTO. KOTO teaches disadvantaged youth the skills they need to become all-star baristas, chefs, and other food industry professionals. The Lucky Bag was sponsored by eighteen of the Vietnam International Coffee and Dessert Fair’s exhibitors and raised more than $1,000 USD for the charity.
Other concurrent events held at the fair included the mint label showcase for brand new product launches, the marketing stage for press sessions and demonstrations, and a variety of seminars and classes.
To learn more about the Vietnam International Coffee and Dessert Fair contact the show secretariat at vietnam@coex.co.kr
