100,000 expected for food festival

THE largest consumer food exhibition in Malaysia, iFoodex 2009, will feature 130 booths from all over the region and the United States.

Event organiser Intrenasionale chief executive officer Andrew S. Chan said apart from Malaysia, countries like Iran, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and China would also showcase their food and kitchen products during the three-day event starting from Friday at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) in Relau, Penang.

He said the crowd was expected to be bigger this year as it would be held simultaneously with two other events — the 12th Battle of the Chefs and the 100-stall Penang Local Delights.

The three events come under the Penang International Food Festival (PIFF).

“We are expecting 100,000 people over the three days in comparison to some 60,000 visitors last year,” Chan told a press conference in Komtar recently.

He said as health was closely related to the food industry, the event this year would see a participation of major companies such as Merck, Abbott, Yakult, YSP, CCM, Ecobrown, Sin Wah Thong, Yigaho, Green Image and Melilea.

“This is an incentive-driven exhibition with lots of freebies, discounted products and food sampling.

“There will also be non-stop interactive stage activities for visitors and they can win prizes,” he said.

He said that by switching on their handphones’ Bluetooth device, visitors could also receive information on special discounts offered by the exhibitors.

The PIFF 2009 is supported by the Penang Tourism Action Council (PTAC), Tourism Ma-laysia and the Tourism Ministry.

Those interested in renting tents for their stalls during the event can call PTAC at 04-2620202.