BANGKOK, Thailand – The 17th ASEAN Café Show 2023 took place from October 26–29 at BITEC, Bangkok, under the concept of “One–Stop Café Solution.” Mr. Kavin Kittiboonya, the president of Kavin Intertrade, and the show organizer, said that the exhibition has welcomed almost 250 exhibitors from Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Singapore, covering more than 300 booths on a 10,000–square–meter space, a 100% increase from the previous year.
He also mentioned that more than 8,000 cutting–edge products from around the world were showcased by exhibitors to owners, entrepreneurs, decision–makers of coffee, bakery, and ice cream shops, as well as new investors wishing to enter this lucrative market. Visitors had a firsthand experience of discovering new trends and technological advancements and placing orders.
The president further stated that the coffee, bakery, and ice cream sectors remain among the rising stars of 2023, with the coffee business valued at approximately 64,000 million baht and the bakery market valued at about 38,000 million baht.
“The continued economic growth, a surge in tourism, increased consumer spending, and evolving preferences among the younger generation, who are increasingly opting to discover unique cafes for socializing and sharing their café experiences on social media, are driving the growth of these two sectors,” Kavin stated.
The president added that the timing of the show is quite ripe as the show days coincide with the high season of the industry, and he anticipated around 25,000 visitors from 40 countries to visit the show, with more than 500 million baht in sales to be generated during the four–day event.
Product categories at the show encompassed a wide array of equipment for coffee shops, including various sizes of coffee machines, grinders, roasting machines, and accessories. Raw materials and ingredients such as different coffee bean varieties, speciality coffees, tea leaves, syrups, and sweeteners were also available.
Bakery shops and homemade bakers found dough kneaders, ovens, cake decorating ingredients, cake moulds, cake showcase chillers, and ice cream shops can explore gelato machines, ice cream powder, cream substitutes, and powdered milk.
Additionally, the ASEAN Café Show 2023 offered an extensive range of packaging options, including cups, glasses, and beverage containers, refrigerated bakery showcases, chillers, freezers, ice–making machines, etc.
In addition to the wide–ranging product offerings, Kavin said the company partnered with various associations, i.e. the Horticultural Science Society of Thailand, Barista Association of Thailand, Thai Coffee Association, Thailand Coffee and Tea Association, and the Bakery Association (Thailand), to curate nearly 50 valuable activities.
These activities are aimed at enhancing the skills of operators/visitors, offering opportunities to learn and refine their craft. Barista champions, renowned chefs, and industry experts shared exquisite recipes for coffee, tea, beverages, bakery items, and ice cream.
The annual Thailand National Coffee Roasting Championship 2024, organized in collaboration with the Barista Association of Thailand, returned to select the winner to represent Thailand on the global stage next year.
Attendees, including coffee shop owners and coffee aficionados, could also engage in insightful discussions with coffee experts on industry trends, such as sustainability in the Thai coffee business, coffee roasting profiles, and grinding methods.
