The fourth edition of Speciality & Fine Food Asia (SFFA), Southeast Asia’s leading trade show for artisan, gourmet and fine food and drink has concluded on a high note. SFFA 2022 was held alongside Restaurant, Pub & Bar Asia (RPB Asia) and three newly launched shows – Speciality Coffee & Tea Asia (SCTA), Meat & Poultry & Asia (MPA) and Food2Go – at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from the 22nd to 24 June 2022.

Organised by Montgomery Asia, the 5-in-1 show attracted over 7,300 attendees from 47 countries – exceeding the 2019 edition – and 188 exhibitors from 16 countries. To further enhance the exhibition experience, visitors were also able to continue connecting with exhibitors digitally via a digital platform.

The event was graced by Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for Trade and Industry; Mr Christopher McCuin, Managing Director of Montgomery Asia; and Mr Victor Mah, President of the Singapore Coffee Association (SCA). After the opening ceremony, Ms Low also toured the exhibition hall, interacting with exhibitors and tasting some of the fine food and drink products being showcased.

Mr Christopher McCuin, Managing Director, Montgomery Asia, said, “We are proud to declare SFFA 2022 a huge success. We have successfully bought the industry back together creating opportunities for exhibitors and visitors alike to reconnect with one another and build new business opportunities. SFFA 2022 will be superseded by its 2023 edition held next September, with a larger floor space offering more showcases, exhibitors and business opportunities at Marina Bay Sands, we can’t wait!”

A key highlight of the opening ceremony was the signing of two Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) between Montgomery Asia and SFFA’s strategic partners to further solidify the existing partnerships leading up to the 2023 edition. The first MoU, signed by Montgomery Asia and SCA, Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA), and Meat Traders’ Association Singapore (MTA), extends the running of SFFA, RPB Asia, SCTA and MPA in Singapore for another two years. The second MoU, signed by Montgomery Asia and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), will see the continuation of the Food2Go show for a minimum of three years. Food2Go, the inaugural business event for F&B takeaway and delivery innovations, helps bridge the gap between tech providers and F&B retailers in this fast-growth industry.

Mr Victor Mah, President, SCA, added, “SFFA 2022 was a wonderful platform not just for the coffee industry, but also for the whole F&B industry. The MoUs signed with Montgomery Asia will ensure that subsequent years’ events will see participation and close collaboration between network associations and businesses. At the Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC) @ Speciality Coffee & Tea Asia, it was a delight to witness the competitiveness and tenacity among the young expert baristas over the three-day competition, and I would like to warmly congratulate the winners on their well-deserved achievement.”

SFFA 2022 was ablaze with activity as visitors were treated to cooking demonstrations, panel discussions and tasting opportunities. Some highlights at the Fine Food Live Stage included the European Meat Roundtable by the European Union, the launch of the &SO product line by Monde Nissin, and presentations on food tech and the latest ingredients. The live cooking and butchery demonstrations at the Fine Food Live Stage also gained significant traction as visitors were able to taste freshly prepared food samples made on-site with the finest ingredients by renowned chefs. At the Innovation Stage, trade visitors were able to hear from industry experts on topics such as sustainable packaging, revenue-building, organisational resilience and cloud kitchens.

This year’s edition was well supported by exhibitors from across the globe. At the 10 country pavilions, visitors were able to taste the finest food and drinks from Singapore, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uzbekistan.

Huge turnout at the Singapore National Coffee Championship
The Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC) @ SCTA concluded after intense competition between expert coffee brewers and baristas in the National Barista Championship 2022 and Singapore National Brewers Cup 2022. The crowned winners, Lee Hee Wei and Elysia Tan, respectively, will be heading to the Melbourne World Coffee Championships later this year.

Lee Hee Wei, Founder, Olla Specialty Coffee and winner of the National Barista Championship 2022, said, “This is my sixth attempt in this competition and the feeling of being crowned the winner is overwhelming. I’m really thankful for this great platform for baristas to showcase what speciality coffee is really about and the mastery of it. Apart from the competition, the event brings together the community, and it was great to see fellow baristas displaying their skills.”

Elysia Tan, Co-Founder and Director, Homeground Coffee Roasters and winner of the Singapore National Brewers Cup, said, “It was a very nerve wracking experience, but at the same time I feel fortunate and excited to be able to again represent Singapore at the Melbourne World Coffee Championships later this year. This competition has been a good platform for the industry – making seemingly mundane work more exciting, and pushing boundaries to make better coffee. Seeing familiar faces at this event was one of the best feelings after such a long time.”

Partnership with The Food Bank Singapore

In line with Montgomery Group’s environmental sustainability policy, SFFA partnered with The Food Bank Singapore. As Singapore’s first food bank, the Food Bank Singapore bridges donors and member beneficiaries by collecting and redistributing donated food, and currently serves more than 100,000 families and over 300,000 people with all kinds of food – from fresh to cooked. On the final day of SFFA, exhibitors were able to donate their excess food items that contributed to Food Bank Singapore’s food relief efforts such as community pantries, emergency food ration deliveries and daily meal programmes.

Strategic Partners, Supporting Partners & Supporters
SFFA 2022 and its co-located shows are supported by a host of leading industry associations and brands. Strategic Partners include Meat Traders’ Association Singapore, Singapore Coffee Association, Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association and Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

Supporting Partners include the ASEAN Coffee Federation, Disciples Escoffier International, Association of Catering Professionals Singapore (ACAPS), Food, Drinks & Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), Hospitality Purchasing Association Singapore, Republic Polytechnic (RP), Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC), Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) and Packaging Council of Singapore (PCS), among many others.

This year’s Supporters include the Singapore Tourism Board, the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau, the Employment & Employability Institute and Singapore Airlines.

Larger shows, bigger business opportunities in 2023

SFFA and its co-located shows RPB Asia, SCTA and MPA will return on 26th to 28th September 2023 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Food2Go will make its return as a co-located event alongside the 4-in-1 megashow. SFFA 2023 will focus on enhancing the full suite of F&B experience – from technological innovators to manufacturers and products, to end-to-end food delivery services. The Fine Food Live Stage, Innovation Stage, Singapore National Coffee Championship and the Tap Room will return with more in-depth expert insights, exciting product showcases and more opportunities for business and industry players.