Vietnam, 10 September 2009 – Food&HotelVietnam2009 will take the lead to raise the quality benchmark of Vietnam’s food and hospitality industry, through specialised events that will give local Vietnamese professionals insights to international service standards.

Events like the inaugural Vietnam Barista Competition 2009 will bring vast opportunities and exposure to professionals in the food and hospitality industry to enhance their skills and elevate service standards to world-class levels. The competition is a gathering of the best baristas in Vietnam to pit their skills for the best brew, and serves as a platform to strengthen Vietnam’s coffee industry by creating opportunities towards career development for the barista.

The Vietnam Barista Competition 2009 will feature Mr. Ross Bright - a Certified World Barista Championship Judge 2007/2008, as Chief Judge in its distinguished judging panel.  The competition will be held at Food&HotelVietnam2009 from 1 – 3 October at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC).

Currently the Master Roaster and Wholesale Manager for the Singapore operations of US-based Spinelli Coffee Company, and Vice President of the Singapore Coffee Association, Mr. Bright has over 10 years of extensive experience in the global coffee industry.  His expertise spans from coffee roasting, espresso training, business development to customer relations and support.  

Mr. Bright has judged many barista events held all over the globe, including the prestigious World Barista Championship, and national barista competitions in Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  An advocate of advancing a barista’s competence by setting an international service benchmark on a competitive platform, he played a key role in the establishment of Singapore’s first barista competition at a national level in 2007.

“Living in Singapore for the past eight years, I have recognised the opportunities that exist to promote and improve the coffee culture in Southeast Asia. Competitions provide an excellent opportunity for baristas to present their skills, and the opportunity to improve the life of farmers and their families through consumer education," said Mr. Bright. 

“The Vietnam Barista Competition is designed to enhance the skills of the barista, and promote the growth of gourmet coffee and the industry as a whole. It is an exciting time in Southeast Asia as we witness the emergence of coffee culture, and I see great potential for an excellent future for this industry in Vietnam,” he added.

The judging panel will also include technical and sensory judges from France, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. A national winner will emerge from the competition to receive a cash prize and sponsored opportunity to represent Vietnam at the Asia Barista Championship 2010 in Singapore.

Organised by:		Supported by:
Sponsors: Coffee Beans: Syrups: Commercial Blenders:       Espresso Machines: Coffee Grinders:

Food&HotelVietnam2009 – Shaping Vietnam’s Food and Hospitality Industry

• Will occupy over 9,000 square metres at the new Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center to host more than 280 exhibiting companies from over 19 countries/regions (80 per cent from overseas) and 10 international group pavilions from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA
• Will feature the participation of many global industry leaders, testifying the importance of the event to the food and hospitality industry. The exhibiting companies are Chinatown Food, Del Monte, EuroChef, Flanders Investment & Trade, Grand Place Chocolate, Herman Laue, Hosen, Illy Coffee, Lamb Weston, Libbey, Meat & Livestock Australia, Pasabahce, Qson, Q Industries, Simplex, Tai Hua Sauces, Tong Garden, USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, US Meat, Unilever, WUSATA and many more
• Exhibitors from Vietnam will include Andy Mannhart, Annam Fine Food, BT Corporation, Charles Wembley, Hoan Cau, MHS, Minh Long, New Viet Dairy, Tan Uc Viet and VietSolutions
• Launch of 1st FranchisingVietnam, a premier franchising trade event dedicated to the food and beverage, hospitality and retail franchises. The event presents a timely business platform for local and overseas companies to capitalise on Vietnam’s flourishing franchising industry
• Launch of 1st Vietnam Barista Competition to showcase expertise and creativity in the art of brewing and serving specialty coffee, and boost the barista profession
• Return of 3rd Vietnam Culinary Challenge to feature professional chefs from hospitality establishments across Vietnam exhibit their skills through culinary creations

About Food&HotelVietnam
Food&HotelVietnam, Vietnam’s premier food and hospitality sourcing and networking trade event, features at least 70 per cent of overseas exhibitors in all its editions. The event will bring industry professionals in Vietnam high quality equipment, services and solutions currently available in the global marketplace. FranchisingVietnam2009, Vietnam’s premier franchising trade event, will be held alongside Food&HotelVietnam2009 for the first time. The event is organised by Singapore Exhibition Services and co-organised by VCCI Exhibition Service Co Ltd. For more information about the events, please visit  www.foodnhotelvietnam.com.

VCCI Editorial Contact
Lan Anh
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VCCI Exhibition Service
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Fax: +84 8 3932 5789
Mobile: +84 903 221 863
Email: media@vietcham-expo.com

SES Editorial Contact
June Seah
Senior PR Executive
Singapore Exhibition Services
Tel: +65 6233 6635
Fax: +65 6272 2962
Mobile: +65 9852 6756
Email: js@sesallworld.com