One of Korea′s most recognized international food exhibition kicks off a four-day run.
Over at KINTEX, companies from around the world delighted visitors' palates with their latest items.
Kim Hye-sung sheds light on what's hot in the food industry this year.
Seoul Food 2019, Korea's largest annual international food exhibition, opened on Tuesday, with more than 15-hundred food and drink vendors from over 40 countries showcasing their latest products.
"We have a record 3-thousand booths at the 37th Seoul Food Exhibition. With advances in technological innovation, this year's food trend theme is discovery and adventurous consumers."
Consumers are becoming more adventurous and open to discovering new food and flavors... thanks to social media where people share new food products from around the world in the blink of an eye.
Snack companies are trying out exotic new flavors to attract consumers, who have become more bold in their tastes.
From strawberry flavor to wasabi flavor, there are a dozen flavors for almond snacks.
Local foods with unique flavors are also going global.
"Salted egg has a very rich taste. Saltiness and sugar. In Singapore we use it in our daily dishes so we infused it into our snacks. We have presence in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia."
According to Innova Market Insights, snacking is a rising global trend as more people squeeze a small, fourth meal in their daily routine... which could be anything from bizarre snacks to natural and organic superfoods.
"With the number of single-person households growing rapidly, we came up with fermented sauces packaged for two servings. It's also easy to make, we have a Youtube video link showing how to cook the food. Thanks to interest in Korean food, we plan to expand further into the global market, like the U.S., China and the Phillippines."
According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, around 40 million U.S. dollars worth of contracts were signed at last year's event... connecting importers and exporters in the food and beverage industry in Korea.
And this year, with the number of visitors to Seoul Food expected to surpass last year's 45-thousand people, the organizers expect the event will help enrich even more lives, especially for foodies.
Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.