January 27, 2018, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia: The fourth edition of the Café Malaysia series was a rousing success. The show opened by guest-of-honour, Yang Berbahagia Dato. Dr Siew Ka Wei, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia on January 25, 2017 at the MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre (MECC), enjoyed a record attendance of more than 12,000 trade and public visitors over a span of three days, among them a business delegation from South Korea.
The Café Malaysia series, first launched in 2015, is the largest gathering of the tea and coffee industries in Malaysia and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. This dynamic B2B platform is sought by key decision makers of the coffee and tea industries as a sourcing destination for their café needs and to explore new collaborations and opportunities in a country where the number of specialty coffee drinkers has mushroomed over the years. 2018 marked the largest outing of the Café Malaysia series since its inception. It hosted 157 international, regional and local exhibitors from 22 countries.
Visitors to Café Malaysia 2018 were treated to a delightful selection of local and international cuisine at the launch of the inaugural Food Truck Show. The Food Truck industry has grown in visibility in recent years. There are now more than 600 food trucks operating across the country serving an increasing appetite for popular mobile food culture. The timely introduction of the Food Truck Show made it the only B2B event dedicated to the industry. Also a first at the show was the Chocolate Pavilion where visitors savoured the many varieties of chocolates and tempting creations.
Apart from the various innovative products and technologies showcased by the exhibitors, visitors to the show also learnt about the latest trends and developments of the industry at a series of talks by key industry professionals at the Café Clinic series of talks and presentations.
A major draw of the show was the competition area. Supporters of the contestants were enthralled as they witnessed the country’s top baristas compete for the coveted titles at three national coffee championships – the Malaysia Barista Championship, the Malaysia Brewers Cup, and the Malaysia Latte Art Championship. Top winners from all three championships will represent Malaysia at the world stage this year in Netherlands, Amsterdam; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Belo Horizonte, Brazil; respectively.
The Cafe Malaysia series is organised by CEMS Conference & Exhibition (M) Sdn Bhd, and is hosted by the Malaysia Specialty Coffee Association (MSCA) and the Café Owners Alliance Malaysia. MSCA is a member of the ASEAN Coffee Federation (ACF). The show is also endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.
