IFEX Philippines 2017 is Every Foodies Epicurean Pilgrimage, and Definitely Worth Your Visit!

Hello ladies especially for our food-loving readers worldwide!
Remember when I share you a story about my delightful and extravagant foodie experience?!

Yeah! And this year it will be more exciting again, because…. Asia’s Ethnic Food & Ingredients Show / International Food Exhibition or IFEX Philippines 2017 is back this season and they are ready to amaze us with their newest and exciting offerings that we can’t never resists.

Since I’ve first attended the IFEX Philippines in 2015 and had my most amazing experience, I vowed that I will do my best, and clear-out my schedule for this month, to attend and witness more food and ingredients that our Momma and Grannies will surely make us ohh so proud!





Last Friday, I’ve got a privileged to be invited by DTI-CITEM (Department of Trade and Industry – Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions) for the media conference of this season’s IFEX Philippines 2017. This year, we will expect an over of 700 exhibitors/food firms, comprised of various food and ethnic ingredient manufacturers, exporters, consolidators, artisans, chefs, culinary historians and experts; and gourmet enthusiasts across the globe, each brining along distinctive products offerings, knowledge, and skills at the much-awaited feast!




Happening this coming weekend of May 19th to 22nd, buyers and visitors will experience and understand deeper the Philippine food through its multi-faceted origins in history, geography and culture.

Indeed this is definite an epicurean pilgrimage that you must never missed.






Definitely not! IFEX Philippines is open for everyone, foodie or non-foodie and it doesn’t discriminate.

Here are what you can expect this coming amazing weekend:





Food Philippines Hall - The Food Philippines Hall at IFEX Philippines is the premier venue for top and emerging Philippine food export companies to promote the country’s food products and strengthen links with buyers, importers, and retailers in the global food market.




International Hall - The International Hall showcases in one trade platform for the top food products and ingredients of leading companies and manufacturers across the globe.
With the theme ‘TASTE ASEAN’ for its 11th edition, IFEX Philippines spotlights the top brands from ASEAN member states and its Regional Dialogue Partners. It will also highlight the premium selections from European countries with the European Union as the event’s first international regional partner.




Food Artisans Village - The Food Artisans Village recreates the vibrant and colorful market environment of local artisan communities featuring terroir products and artisanal delicacies from the different regions of the Philippines presented by the Department of Agriculture through its Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Service (DA-AMAS).

It features food products from the Mindanao region and province of Negros Occidental. The pavilion also showcases the country’s high-demand export commodities, such as seafood, coconut, coffee, cacao, and processed fruits and nuts.


I’ve got a chance to meet the super active lady here, the Regional Director of DTI-CAR Region Ms. Juliet.

I love these locally made ice cream by FIC – better try their pistachio, avocado and durian flavours. They are superb!

The MarketPlace - The MarketPlace is a one-stop retail shop of premium food and food-related products ranging from fruits and vegetables, to meat and poultry, seafood products, processed foods, homemade regional delicacies, as well as personal care and wellness products and other allied products and services.




Aside from these highlights, buyers and visitors for this 3-days epicurean event will enjoy these Sixteen (16) more shows, and I bet you and your foodie friends will definitely will make you stick around:


ASEAN Pavilion
In line with the 50th founding anniversary and 30th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), TasteASEAN@IFEX Philippines presents the top food from 10 ASEAN member states as one of the official events in the ASEAN 2017 Business and Investment Program held in partnership with the Committee on Business and Investment Promotion (CBIP).

This exhibit hopes to capture the immense global demand for oriental flavors and drive up more trade opportunities between ASEAN and other countries—streamlining the region’s aspiration towards ‘Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.’


ASEAN Top Brands Showcase
The ASEAN Top Brands Showcase spotlights the leading food products and ingredients of top companies from 10 ASEAN countries through different presentations of native and iconic delicacies.




ASEAN Top Grocers Program - The ASEAN Top Grocers Program rounds up the major decision-makers of leading food retail chains, such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, supercenters, and wholesale clubs, across Southeast Asia.
The program serves as a link between ASEAN retail giants and food manufacturers to generate more trade opportunities within the region.




Negros Occidental Pavilion - IFEX Philippines rounds up local companies, communities, and cooperatives from Negros Occidental to expand its export opportunities through the presentation of new and innovative products of the Negrenses under the Food Artisans Village.
In collaboration with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the Negros-based groups offer premium and artisanal products which include dried and processed fruits, seafood, noodles, sweets, native healthy and organic options, and other delicacies.




Mindanao Pavilion: The Food Basket of the Philippines
Taking the spotlight at the Food Artisans Village, this highly curated exhibit features the top food brands of Mindanao, which is recognized as the country’s food basket for its rich agricultural resources.




Seafood Pavilion - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) supports 13 Philippine export companies in showcasing various export-quality seafood products to highlight the country’s premium seafood selections, such as shrimp, milkfish or bangus, canned tuna, canned sardines, frozen tuna, live lobsters, groupers, and other high-value seafood products.




Food Artisans Village / Commodity Pavilion - In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, IFEX Philippines lines up the hottest and most in-demand export commodities from different provinces across the country under the Food Artisans Village.

In this Pavilion, visitors can sift through a prime selection of globally competitive products from six different food sectors, namely vegetables; seafood; fruits; meat and poultry; grains and cereals; and healthy, natural and organic products.


TASTE PHILIPPINES by FCAP - IFEX Philippines collaborates with the Food Caterers Association of the Philippines to serve iconic dishes and heirloom delicacies rooted from the rich artisanal and culinary tradition of the Philippines.

TASTE PHILIPPINES offers a gustatory fete of food fusions and concoctions that had evolved from the unique lifestyle and preference in different Philippine provinces, such as Ilocos, Batangas, Negros and many more.


Bread Alley - Local companies line up their tasty and flavorful bread, pastries and other confections in a delightful showcase of the Philippines’ rich bread-making culture.
From the Philippines’ ubiquitous pan de sal and ensaymada to its ube jam offerings, this exhibit emphasizes on the significant role of bread as a staple food in the ever-evolving Filipino culture and lifestyle highlighting its support towards our rich food history and empowerment on small-scale community bakeries.



Food Innovation Gallery - Food Innovation Gallery showcases the rich array of innovative food product prototypes developed from indigenous raw materials by the Food Innovation Centers (FICs) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) using DOST-developed and locally fabricated food process equipment.  

The FICs were established nationwide as support to local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help move their up to the value chain and boost their productivity towards global competitiveness. Serving as hub for food product development and innovation, concepts are transformed into tangible and new products that have high potential in the global arena.  

EU Pavilion - In celebration of the ‘EU Month’ this May, the EU Pavilion highlights the economic relationship between the Philippines and the European Union (EU). The pavilion will feature the top brands and products from EU states, including Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and The Netherlands.

The pavilion aims to give more opportunities to the EU in penetrating Asian markets and to further boost its position as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner. In collaboration with the EU-Philippines Business Network, the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, the EU is IFEX Philippines’ first official international partner region.




IFEX Kitchen - In partnership with COOK Magazine, IFEX Philippines presents the Summit of Flavors @ IFEX Kitchen featuring celebrated international and local chefs. IFEX Kitchen showcases the iconic recipes, fusion ideas, and latest trend from different countries through a series of dynamic cooking demonstrations.


Food Export and Investment Seminars - Get ideas and be informed of the latest regulations, trends and innovations in the food industry from renowned experts, researchers and lecturers in a seminar series organized with the Culinary Institute of America, US Food and Drug Administration, Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau, Department of Agriculture, Management Association of the Philippines – Agri-Business and Countryside Development Foundation, Inc., and the Organic Coconut Association of the Philippines.


GMART Program - The G-MART (Grocers Exchange) Program is an exclusive business-to-business matching platform that connects international retail giants with Philippine manufacturers and distributors.

The program promotes the Philippines as a top sourcing destination for premium private-label products to opportunities for local food producers to take advantage of the growing global preference towards private label brands.


RIPPLES Plus  - The RIPPLES (Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters) Plus Program presents the export-competitive products developed and upscaled by local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and its Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

The exhibit highlights the products of MSMEs that underwent capacity-building training, packaging design workshops, product development, and market research to make them globally competitive.






Halal Pavilion - IFEX Philippines partners with the Philippine Halal Board to elevate the export competitiveness of halal-certified Philippine products in the international market.
This exhibit hopes to spread awareness of the availability, quality, and integrity of Philippine halal products to help cement the Philippines’ position as an international Halal processing and manufacturing hub.




So if I were you, I will #SavetheDate for IFEX Philippines this coming May 19 to 22, 2017 and instead of going out for a movie, why not support our local food and ingredients, and help it flourished in international market, and helping us the ONE ASEAN, that kick-ass (*wink)

Am inviting all of your and yes including all the foreign guests of Manila to visit this season’s IFEX Philippines and learn our epicurean food history, cultures and many others!

Don’t wait further and register now at www.ifexphilippines.com for FREE ADMISSION!


Update: May 18 - SORRY friends - Free Admission is already closed - BUT you can still visit and pay Php100.00 admission fee.


xoxo, Blair

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