BAGUIO CITY – The World Food Expo (WOFEX) Baguio returned this year with 66 booths and 45 exhibitors at the Baguio Convention Center. With their slogan, “The Ultimate Food Experience,” WOFEX successfully brings sellers closer to buyers in an established and emerging market during the three-day exhibit, from March 21 to March 23.
WOFEX Baguio marks its 7th exhibit this year with more exhibitors compared to the last exhibit in 2022. This year’s organizer, Xyrus Judan from PEPTARSUS Corporation, explained,
“Last time, yung huling punta namin is 2022. So ano, post pandemic siya. Yun pa yung nagsisimulang lumuwag. That time, mas konti yung exhibitor namin kasi meron tayong rules and regulations na sinusunod patungkol sa pandemya. Ngayon kasi is maluwag na. Ngayon, kung bibilangin natin lahat ng mga nandito, meron tayong 66 booths, 45 exhibitors. Malaki yon para sa show natin”.
Judan further elaborated why they chose Baguio as one of the exhibit’s host, “Kaya kami nag-Baguio is gitna kasi siya ng Region I, II and III. Since siya yung nasa gitna, siya yung focal point. Kesa pumunta ng Manila si Baguio and yung neighboring regions, kami na yung lumapit”.
Described as the biggest, most effective, and well-attended food trade show in the Philippines, WOFEX has been in the industry for 24 years since being established in 2001. The exhibit serves as a one-stop shop for all needs in the food and beverage industry. As WOFEX keeps improving each year, they will have six nationwide exhibits this year compared to the usual five.
WOFEX also provides learning opportunities with WOFEX University, which offers advanced education beyond what is learned from the classroom with experienced industry practitioners, partnered with workshops through SensoryEx.
“Yung mga celebrity chefs sa Manila, dinadala namin dito to talk and meet with the participants ng Baguio. Then meron din kaming SensoryEx, siya yung sinasabing hands-on seminar. Yung normal kasing seminar namin is may speaker, nakaupo ka, then nagtetake down ka ng notes. Si SensoryEx naman, kung anong ginagawa ni speaker, yun din ang ginagawa mo. For this leg, fermentation yung topic, so kung anong gamit ni chef, yun din yung gamit mo as participants”, Judad explained.
As WOFEX brings the market to the suppliers and leads them to the right market, Judan thanks its exhibitors for trusting WOFEX as their partner in making their business evolve and known nationwide.
Out of the six stops for the WOFEX exhibit, two were already concluded with Bicol (February 29-March 2) and Baguio (March 21-23). The remaining hosts for this year’s regional exhibits are– Cebu (April 18 to 20), Davao (May 23 to 25), Cagayan De Oro (June 21-23), and Manila (July 31 to August 3). By Peachy Clarisse Tillay
