Successful despite coronavirus

An "inspiring event in a year of uncertainties" was the description given by organiser VNU Exhibitions Asia to the 23rd edition of Pet Fair Asia. The figures speak for themselves: 1 683 exhibitors (last year: 1 591) in 17 halls (last year: 14) received almost 71 000 visitors (last year: 67 163). The organiser highlighted this growth in particular against the background of continuing travel restrictions. International fair attendees, who were unable to travel, were offered live video sessions.
It was clear at Pet Fair Asia which categories were proving to be winners in the coronavirus pandemic. Countless new pet food brands were unveiled, most positioned in the medium to premium segment. Some Chinese suppliers emphasised at the show that their products had been manufactured in foreign plants, with New Zealand and Canada topping the list of countries of origin.More surprisingly in Covid-19 times, the number of imported brands exhibited at the fair had also increased. The show organiser interprets this as an indication of the enduring trust Chinese pet owners put in foreign products, but also as a sign of the growing number of foreign manufacturers authorised by the Chinese customs and Ministry of Agriculture for general retail imports.

The B2B e-commerce platform Asia Pet Online was launched at Pet Fair Asia especially for the pet product sector in Asia. It is currently open to companies operating in China, but is to be introduced worldwide. On the eve of the show, the 10th International Pet Industry Summit was held (see separate report on this page).
Another feature that was premiered was the so-called matchmaking programme, enabling companies to meet local buyers live at Pet Fair Asia. This option was offered to registered exhibitors who could not make the journey to Pet Fair Asia.
Other events and seminars during the trade show included the Asia Pet Veterinary Conference, a pet fashion show, the CKU 2020 Grooming Elite competition, animal welfare seminars, a dog Olympiad and kids' veterinary camps.

"On the whole, the 23rd Pet Fair Asia has given the sector inside and outside China a lot of confidence for the next few months and offers an extremely positive outlook for 2021," was the summary by VNU Exhibitions Asia. The next…