LOCAL enterprises, mostly engaged in food trade and their respective cuisines, are getting a boost in the three-day 16th World Food Expo (Wofex) that opened Thursday at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City.
Themed “Strengthening the Industry of Food and Tourism,” this year’s Wofex, considered one of the biggest food shows in the country organized by the PEPGroup Inc., gathers about 60 complete-line food suppliers, mostly based in Metro Manila.
Joel Pascual, president of the PEPGroup Inc., said these suppliers offer a comprehensive product line from machines, food services, small appliances, kitchen wares to packaging services.
Pascual told Sun.Star Bacolod the trade show aims to link up the suppliers to local end-users such as chefs, hotels and restaurant owners, and caterers.
He added that Wofex also targets entrepreneurs and enterprises to help them consider making themselves and their operations better, as the annual activity is anchored towards helping small producers become bigger.
“We are on the business of sparking ideas thus, we encourage establishments to come to the show and find the idea that can improve their operations,” Pascual said.
“If one does not know what to do with banana, through the expo they can learn how to process it and replicate (the product) locally, package it, and even sell it to Manila,” he added.
This is the first Wofex hosting for Bacolod City, in partnership with various government agencies and private organizations such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Association of Negros Producers, Metro Negros Occidental Bakers’ Association, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iloilo Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association, and Sun.Star Bacolod.
Other activities slated in the three-day event are series of lectures on baking and pastry arts, restaurants, and catering featuring some of the finest chefs and culinary experts in the country.
With the vibrancy of culinary industry in Negros Occidental, especially Bacolod City, Pascual said it is timely and appropriate to bring the trade and food show in the province.
“Through this event, we help in finding ways to bring the Negrense cuisine to the bigger scene, making it known to the world,” Pascual added.
Mary Ann Colmenares, president of the Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council, said the food expo brings the stakeholders of the industry, particularly MSMEs, closer to potential suppliers.
“Linking our local entrepreneurs to these suppliers further provides bigger opportunities for development,” Colmenares added.