Gwangju International Food Fair 2016, November 17-20

The ATO leveraged an immediate opportunity to facilitate a U.S. Pavilion at the Gwangju International Food Fair 2016, November 17-20. ATO quickly identified a well targeted mix of exhibitors including a major Korean importer for U.S. food ingredients and representatives of Almond Board of California, U.S. Poultry & Egg Export Council and California Walnut Commission. The show exceeded the goals set by ATO Seoul. The U.S. food products on display included almonds and walnuts as well as a wide variety of bakery ingredients (toasted oatmeal, organic flour, half dried cranberry, frozen egg yolk, frozen pizza dough, frozen corn chips, cream cheese and butter). The exhibitors reported additional sales of $100,000 over the next 12 months and five serious trade leads. The ATO disseminated educational materials as well as its hardcopy newsletters and information guidebooks to buyers, chefs, consumers and food and health related institute students.

Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2016, Oct. 27 ~ 29

The U.S. Seafood Pavilion in the Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2016, Oct. 27 ~ 29, which was a collaboration between Seoul ATO and Food Export USA Northeast, developed nearly 40 serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers on various U.S. fishery products. ATO Seoul teamed up with the Food Export USA agricultural trade association, Ready Seafood and Maine Coast Company to exhibit U.S. lobsters and to provide information on U.S. seafood and food products in general. One-on-one business meetings held in the USA pavilion exhibit space and American food brochures and other materials distributed in the ATO information counter were recognized by all exhibitors and visitors as key events for developing business relationships between the two countries. The United States exported more than $233 million of seafood products to Korea in 2015, and this year’s sales as of the third quarter are keeping with last year’s pace. For more information on the Korean seafood market please read ATO Seoul Seafood Products Annual Report August 2016.

Great American Culinary Camp Seoul 2016

Great American Culinary Camp Seoul 2016, co-hosted by ATO Seoul and Korean Alumni Association of the Culinary Institute of America (KACIA) on September 7 in Millennium Hilton Hotel Seoul successfully promoted the value, quality and diversity of American agricultural products to key decision makers of the Korean food service industry. A project team of four talented young chefs under KACIA presented an insightful presentation about American restaurant industry trends as well as 16 inspiring recipe ideas that incorporated various American agricultural products donated by 8 MAP cooperator organizations (ABC, CWC, CMC, RAC, Sunkist, USMEF, USDEC, USHBC) and 2 suppliers (Global Craft, Joon Trading International). In addition, the sponsor organizations and suppliers presented a tabletop product showcase at the event and gained face-to-face contacts with the 170 attendees. The recipe book (PDF version) published for the event and UCC cooking videos of the five recipes served at the event are available from ATO Seoul website. For more information about the Korean food service industry, please refer to the Korea HRI Food Service Sector Report 2016, also available from ATO Seoul website.