Mobac

 

The new year promises to be very exciting in terms of bakery trade shows in the Asia Pacific region with the MOBAC Show in Japan in February, Bakery China in Shanghai in May and then SIBA 2007 in South Korea in October.

 

All three shows are promising to be the biggest and the best. MOBAC is billed as Japan’s largest comprehensive show dedicated to the bakery and confectionery industry. It’s theme is new generation technologies for bread and confections and will cover machinery, materials and marketing. Mobac runs from February 21 to 24 and is supported by the Japanese government as well as the All Japan Federation of Bakers Associations and other related agencies.  

 

The objective of MOBAC, says the organiser, is to promote the development of new technologies and new products dedicated to bakery and confectionery machinery, raw materials and sub-materials, packaging machines and other equipment and tools related to bakery and confectionery.   

 

This year’s event is to be held in Tokyo. The show alternates between the Japanese capital and Osaka every other year. The last MOBAC event, which was held in Osaka in 2005, attracted over 60,000 visitors, over 40 per cent of which were from the bakery and confectionery industry.   

 

Bakery China 2007

 

Following hot on the heels of MOBAC is Bakery China 2007 which is organised by the same company that brought you IBA in Munich in 2006. Munich-based GHM is not behind the entire event but, according to Nadja Dull, project co-ordinator, the company is charged with the task of bringing in more international visitors from Europe and the USA.   

 

 Bakery China 2007 will be held at the New International Expo Centre in Shanghai, China, and will focus exclusively on bakery technology and equipment, baking products, fittings – such as display fittings, cash desk systems and data processing software – products and services such as marketing, new patents and laboratory technology, and packaging.   

 

 Last year’s event attracted 60,000 visitors which is a reflection of the importance attached to the Chinese baking industry which is experiencing up to 20 per cent annual turnover growth. The Chinese people have much more choice in terms of bakery products than ever before. Thirty years ago, it is claimed, bread was almost unknown. Today, the supermarket chain, Jinkelong offers over 200 different sorts of biscuits – more than any major retailer in Europe. “Sweet things are the focal point of the trend,” claim the exhibition’s organiser.   

 

 An independent ‘cross-over’ culture has developed for bakery goods in China which means that products created are shaped by the West while still retaining a Chinese character. The number of bakeries in China is increasing by the day as Chinese eating habits diversify due to globalisation and rising incomes.   

 

 Bakery China is organised by the Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry based in Beijing.