Seoul, 2 June 2016 - Thirty New Zealand food and beverage companies joined forces to showcase New Zealand recipes and products to around 400 Korean food and beverage industry professionals, journalists and power bloggers on 24 May at Seoul’s Lotte Hotel.

New Zealand food and beverage on offer included beef, beef jerky, beef bone extract, cheese, whipping cream, ice cream, sheep milk products, apple juice, honey, Manuka honey drink, chocolates, sauce, greenshell mussels and seafood, kiwifruit, syrup, beer and wine, making the 12th Food Connection event the largest such event New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in Seoul has ever held.

The event helped raise the profile of participants’ products, meet potential customers and identify leads, following entry into force of the Korea New Zealand free trade agreement in December.

NZTE also held a dairy seminar for around 60 VIPs from major Korean manufacturers, the first time such an event has been held in Korea. Leading New Zealand dairy companies, including Fonterra, Tatua, Synlait and Spring Sheep Milk, made a presentation and were well received by the Korean industry contacts.

Trade Commissioner Ryan Freer welcomed the participants and guests, noting that that the new free trade agreement is already providing exporters and partners with a boost in trade and helping to strengthen partnerships.

The previous day, NZTE held an in-market services seminar and field trip to retail stores to help the New Zealand participants better understand the Korean market. This was followed by a networking reception with Korean guests.

A news posting by the NZ Foreign Affairs & Trade ministry