MOEA Organizes Chicago Food Business Delegation, Leads Companies to NRA Show

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), in partnership with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the National Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, has organized a food business delegation to Chicago, USA. The delegation, composed of food-related businesses, attended the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show, the largest foodservice trade show in the United States, and held talks with American food brands, distributors, and supply chain companies to explore cooperation, aiming to help Taiwanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand their opportunities in the American market.

In a press release today, the MOEA's Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration stated that the delegation was led by Cheng Jui-pin, chairman of Q Burger. Members of the delegation span various fields, including digital applications for catering, food R&D, raw materials, testing technologies, packaging materials, and equipment. The Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan and the Food-Startup Foundation also participated.

The MOEA noted that amid changing global economic and geopolitical landscapes, it continues to assist SMEs in expanding overseas markets and strengthening international links. Since last year, it has also enhanced its industry alliance mentoring mechanism, encouraging a "big-league-small-league" model and cross-disciplinary integration to jointly develop markets and secure orders, thereby accelerating entry into international supply chains.

The MOEA stated that several participating companies engaged with major U.S. food brands, distributors, and material application firms during the show. These included food service provider Sysco, foodservice equipment brand Sephra, food manufacturer J&J Snack Foods, and sustainable food packaging company World Centric. Discussions focused on product customization, product development, and supply chain cooperation.

Specifically, Pin-Yuan Enterprise discussed customized pre-mixed powders and joint product development with American partners. Lu-Shih Enterprise explored cooperation opportunities with Sysco for its room-temperature cooked noodle products in the North American market. Kanghe International leveraged large agencies and local Taiwanese business resources to plan the U.S. expansion of Asian food brands. Shian-Jinn Co. made inroads with its bamboo fiber green packaging and has already begun sample testing and product evaluation with several international companies.

In terms of food innovation and digital applications, the SME Administration pointed out that Allergen Test showcased its food testing technology to gluten-free food companies and established a collaborative contact with the University of Chicago. Q Burger exchanged ideas on POS (Point of Sale) system applications and operational management models with U.S. restaurant system providers Toast and Restaurant365.

Additionally, LOHAS Quick-Dine advanced supply chain cooperation for its AI steam cooking equipment. Rich-Foods and the Food-Startup Accelerator discussed international cooperation with The Hatchery Chicago, a food startup incubator, to strengthen future U.S. market entry and links to startup resources.

The MOEA also mentioned that, with arrangements made by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, the delegation visited the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, World Business Chicago, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to understand the local food industry ecosystem, investment environment, and business resources. An event organized with the help of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Chicago allowed for sharing experiences on U.S. expansion and market development.

Furthermore, the MOEA stated it currently plans to form a "Sustainable Food Alliance" by the end of June. The aim is to integrate different areas of expertise within the food industry supply chain, extending from joint market expansion to joint order-taking, cooperative development, and supply chain integration, to continuously enhance the international competitiveness and global visibility of Taiwan's SMEs.