Maldives Food and Beverage Show kicked off Thursday with the participation of several big names in the industry.
The second edition of the annual Maldives Food and Beverage Show is being held at the National Art Gallery in capital Male by Saturday. It is open for visitors from 2-6pm and from 8-11pm on Thursday and Saturday, and from 4-6pm and from 8-11pm on Friday.
Exhibitors include major food suppliers such as Hobson’s Choice, Fancy Foods, Euro Store, The Berry Company, Lily International, Ondhigo, United Food Suppliers, Divine, Dine and Lotus. International brands such as Movenpick, Coca Cola and Cafe’D Italia, internet based food delivery service Food Hub and STELCO Fen bottled water, are also participating in the show as exhibitors.
Popular energy drink Red Bull has setup a gaming area at the show with prizes being given away for winners of gaming competitions. Daily raffle draws are also held by Hobson’s Choice, Ondhigo and Cafe’ D Italia.
Launched last year by leading local event management company Highrise, Maldives Food and Beverage Show brings together industry professionals, suppliers and buyers in an exclusive setting that aims to create more opportunities for business expansion. The show attracts domestic and international attendees from hotels, guesthouses, yachts, restaurants, food service consultants, manufacturing agents, brokers, distributors, equipment manufacturers and culinary experts.
Maldives, known world over for its upmarket tourism industry, has resorts in the hundreds spread across the archipelago. The industry has in recent years expanded to introduce more affordable segments, including guesthouses and liveaboards. Some 300 guesthouses have started operations over the past five years as the number of travellers that choose to stay in guesthouses rise.
With the rapid growth in tourism, the food and beverage industry too has observed an expansion in recent years.