Online Trade Fair Database (J-messe) Hi/S-tec Japan 2016

Health ingredients Japan: The Biggest and Most Advanced Health Ingredients Exhibition and Conference in Asia
Safety and Technology Japan: Exhibition for Food Production, Quality Control, Analysis and Testing Equipment

Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan

October 5-7, 2016

As the birthplace of the functional ingredients industry, and with a rapidly aging society eager to maintain its health, the Japanese market in these products grows steadily year by year. The Hi (Health ingredients) exhibition is a prime focus for this interest, drawing suppliers and buyers from around the Pacific Rim. Along with this interest comes an increased awareness of food safety, and the S-tec (Safety Technology) exhibition focuses on this highly specialized segment within the tradeshow, and provides the best opportunity to meet production and R&D professionals from food manufacturing companies.

The flora of East Asia and the Pacific region have been the world’s “spice shop” for centuries, and in our age these foods have become the basis of many “functional foods,” which can be defined as any food enhanced with special ingredients for health or cosmetic purposes. These ingredients, both old and new, were on gaudy display at Hi/S-tec Japan in Tokyo this year.

From the other side of the Pacific, in the Alberta (Canada) pavilion, Ms. Linda Whitworth, representing the Barley Council of Canada, was promoting the health advantages of beta-glucans, a component of barley. “This is a timely show for us,” she noted, “because barley is being recognized as a good source for beta-glucans.” Ms. Whitworth was also talking to local supplement companies and manufacturers here about using the beta-glucan fractions from barley in supplements for diabetic patients, since beta-glucans are useful in controlling blood sugar levels.

Ms. Rachel Min, Overseas Business Manager of Amicogen Inc. (Korea), noted that her firm was here to meet not only Japanese, but Southeast Asian manufacturers and buyers as well. “We’ve been able to meet Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, and others at the show,” she said.

Many exhibitors remarked on the high quality of visitors who were themselves well versed in functional food bioactives and ready to talk business. Ms. Nicola Gabelich, Technical Consultant for the New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative, which supplies raw black currants to Japanese manufacturers, also enthused about visitor quality, remarking “this show is great! The visitors are precisely the type of people we need to be meeting -- and we like to keep an eye on the competition too.”

There was almost unanimous praise for show operations. Mr. Jose Maria de Oliveira, President and Founder of Ita Brasil Mel e propolis (Brazil), a producer of apiary products, gave the organizers high praise. “We came to the booth on Tuesday before the show, everything was ready, the show people were helpful, attentive, and polite,” he said. “Such a good, well-organized show. We have been to shows in many countries, and this was the best organized of them all!”

Ms. Nicola Gabelich of the New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative praised the organizers as well, saying “Just outstanding service here. The guy in charge of our booth went way out of his way to help, and all our many emails were promptly answered.”

Ms. Rachel Min of Amicogen summed it up best. “So many visitors, so many buyers looking for raw materials,” she observed. “This tradeshow fits us perfectly.”