Foreigners eye Chinese food market at GZ expo

Guangzhou (CNS) -- Enterprises from over 30 countries are currently exhibiting their products at the 8th China International Foodstuff (Guangzhou) Exhibition in the southern capital.

The event which began on Thursday is being held at the Pazhou Poly World Trade Expo Center and will run until May 12. It is expected to attract over 100,000 nonprofessional visitors.

Many foreign suppliers are looking to grab a share of the massive mainland food market, including a Japanese businessman who has brought sea cucumbers from Hokkaido.

China has a big appetite for sea cucumbers, and some high-end restaurants suffer from shortages, he said, a problem he hopes to help solve.

In addition to seafood, dried fruit and instant noodles, imported wine and spirits also occupy a number of booths at the event. Australian and Italian wine producers have been particularly popular.

Despite recent media reports of Chinese wine products disguised as foreign brands, the market still has a promising future as industrial standards gradually take shape and consumer standards rise, said a wholesale alcohol and tobacco distribution manager at the show.