Key sector projects, regional guidance, artificial intelligence integration, global contests, and professional collaboration come together at the concurrent three-day exhibitions
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE, July 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The doors to SIGEP Asia 2026 and Restaurant Asia 2026 swung open today at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, uniting the region’s F&B, foodservice, and hospitality sectors for three days filled with significant sector announcements, strategic discussions, technology presentations & kitchen demos, international contests, corporate networking, and educational sessions.
The Official Opening Ceremony was attended by Guest-of-Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Speeches were also given by Dr Ilaria Cicero, CEO of IEG Asia; Mr Fabio Conte, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Italy in Singapore; Mr Benjamin Boh, President of the Restaurant Association of Singapore; and Mr Victor Mah, President of the Singapore Coffee Association.
This launch of the co-located events marks a major milestone in their transformation from niche trade fairs into a broader regional industry forum, where governments, associations, enterprises, operators, tech vendors, and international collaborators can gather to unveil fresh projects, explore common issues, and devise concrete solutions to the obstacles reshaping F&B, foodservice, and hospitality.
This function was highlighted at today’s Opening Ceremony through the unveiling of the F&B AI and Digital Integration Programme, which helps F&B companies obtain advisory support to pinpoint and utilize AI-driven solutions and digital integration services.
This announcement underscores the rising importance of SIGEP Asia and Restaurant Asia as a venue not just for product discovery and commercial transactions, but also for sector-wide efforts aimed at boosting business capabilities, efficiency, and sustained competitiveness.
Throughout the three-day event, industry conversations will tackle many of the most urgent issues confronting operators today, such as labor shortages, climbing operational expenses, more intricate business settings, technology uptake, workforce efficiency, client interaction, sustainability, supply chain changes, and shifting market demands.
A Central Hub for Regional Industry Leadership
SIGEP Asia 2026 and Restaurant Asia 2026 gather presidents and senior delegates from F&B, foodservice, manufacturing, catering, hospitality, restaurant, and equipment associations in Singapore and throughout the region.
Their attendance offers businesses, media, and industry professionals chances to interact with representatives from across Asia on new market trends, technology adoption, operational hurdles, and opportunities for deeper regional teamwork. Supporting organizations include:
• Restaurant Association of Singapore;
• Association of Catering Professionals Singapore;
• Hospitality Purchasing Association Singapore;
• International Food & Beverage Association;
• Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association;
• Singapore Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers & Suppliers;
• Vietnam Food & Beverage Ecosystem;
• Restaurant Association Vietnam; and
• other regional industry organizations.
By gathering this range of leadership on a single platform, the event allows industry issues to be examined from various viewpoints—from the day-to-day realities of individual restaurants and hospitality operators to broader questions about workforce development, technology, supply chains, manufacturing, equipment, procurement, and cross-border growth.
SIGEP Asia 2026: Global Craftsmanship, Innovation, and Professional Networking
SIGEP Asia 2026 merges the international spheres of gelato, pastry, bakery, pizza, chocolate, coffee, and artisan foodservice with Asia’s growing professional F&B and hospitality market.
Acting as the regional counterpart to SIGEP World in Rimini, Italy, SIGEP Asia offers a dedicated Asian venue for global knowledge sharing, product innovation, artisanal skill, professional training, and commercial partnerships.
Across its competition arenas, demonstration zones, exhibition hall, and SIGEP Sessions program, the show blends international culinary traditions with modern issues involving technology, business management, market growth, and evolving consumer tastes.
Top-Tier International Competitions
1. Gelato World Cup – Asia Selection
The Gelato World Cup – Asia Selection is taking place at SIGEP Asia from 15 to 17 July 2026. Eight squads from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Sri Lanka are vying for the chance to represent Asia at the Gelato World Cup in January 2028 at SIGEP World in Rimini, Italy. Singapore enters the contest as the reigning world champion, lending extra weight to the staging of the Asia Selection in the nation.
This championship tests teams on technical skill, product quality, presentation, creative flair, and their capacity to work across various facets of professional gelato production.
The panel of judges includes prominent figures from the international gelato community, such as Sergio Colalucci, President of the Gelato World Cup; Sergio Dondoli, Vice President of the Gelato World Cup; Giancarlo Timballo, Honorary President of the Gelato World Cup; and Chef Kenny Kong, Chairman of the Jury, along with the managers of the competing teams.
2. Bakery World Cup Asia Selection 2026 – BREAD IN THE CITY
SIGEP Asia and Restaurant Asia are also hosting the first-ever Bakery World Cup Asia Selection 2026 – BREAD IN THE CITY, put together by SBCTA in partnership with IEG Asia.
Teams from Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea will compete in bread-making, viennoiserie, pizza, laminated pastry, and artistic showpieces.
The competition runs alongside the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners Congress 2026, held in Singapore from 13 to 15 July, reinforcing the country’s position as a global meeting point for the bakery and pastry industry. The judging panel consists of Chef Matteo Cunsolo, Chef Elisabete Ferreira, Chef Günther Koerffer, Chef Han Sang Baek, Chef Peng Fu Dong, and Chef Tomohiro Nogami.
3. Singapore National Coffee Championships 2026
The Singapore National Coffee Championships are back for their third installment, co-organized with the Singapore Coffee Association.
Singapore’s top coffee professionals are competing in the Barista, Brewers Cup, Latte Art, and Cup Tasters championships for the opportunity to represent the country on the global stage. This competition brings together technical expertise, sensory evaluation, presentation abilities, and the ongoing growth of Singapore’s specialty coffee community.
SIGEP Sessions: Business Knowledge Meets Culinary Art
The SIGEP Sessions on 16 and 17 July unite chefs, restaurant owners, hospitality experts, F&B business leaders, and industry organizations through seminars, roundtables, masterclasses, tastings, and live cooking demonstrations*.
*Note: Please refer to the Photos & Information Downloads Dropbox link below for the full program of the SIGEP Sessions on 16 and 17 July 2026
International Ambassadors and Live Professional Interaction
Throughout SIGEP Asia, visitors can connect with international and Singapore-based professionals through guided tastings, masterclasses, demonstrations, and conversations. The show’s Excellence in Foodservice Ambassadors represent key sectors of the artisan foodservice economy:
• Chef Janice Wong, Chocolate and Pastry Event Ambassador;
• Chef Antonio Brancato, Pizza Brand Ambassador;
• Chef Matteo Pertoldi, Bakery Brand Ambassador;
• Chef Natasha Chiam, Gelato Brand Ambassador;
• Chef Justin Foo, Technology Brand Ambassador;
• Emi Fukahori, Coffee Brand Ambassador and World Brewers Cup Champion 2018; and
• Chef Lee Yum Hwa, Pasta Brand Ambassador.
Chef Janice Wong’s Chocolate Wall installation also returns as one of the show’s immersive artisan displays.
Restaurant Asia 2026: Turning AI Conversations into Tangible Steps
A key highlight of the opening day is the RAS Leadership Symposium 2026: The Intelligent Restaurant, organized by the Restaurant Association of Singapore. This Symposium addresses the increasing need for F&B operators to grasp how artificial intelligence can be practically applied to restaurant operations, marketing, workforce planning, revenue generation, and decision-making.
Rather than treating AI as an abstract or far-off concept, the program looks at how restaurant businesses can start using it within their current operational settings. The Symposium kicks off with “Building Lean, Building Bold,” a keynote by Joshua Chan of Ergotune, exploring how businesses can maximize human potential, operate with smaller teams, and rethink organizational structures in the AI era.
This is followed by “Your Restaurant AI Needs Awareness,” presented by Shawn Liam of Atlas, which covers the operational groundwork needed for AI to function well in a restaurant, including how disconnected tools and systems can be integrated into a more unified operational framework.
In “When Everyone Can Execute, What Matters?”, Alwyn Cheong of Oddle examines how AI alters organizational bottlenecks and how restaurant operators can improve decision-making, marketing systems, and revenue growth.
Gao Rifeng of The Lo & Behold Group will offer an operator’s viewpoint in “An Operator’s Honest View,” sharing frank observations on the organization’s AI journey, including what succeeded, what failed, and what lies ahead.
The regional and global perspective will be covered by Whey-Han Tan of OpenTable in “From AI Adoption to Real Results,” offering a worldwide look at how AI is being used across F&B businesses, what is working at scale, and what is starting to appear.
The Symposium ends with a practical workshop, “Design and Build Your First AI Agent,” led by the speakers together with Kai Yi, Co-Founder of StaffAny; Sung, CEO of Grain; and Alan, Co-Founder of Oddle.
Participants will collaborate in groups to design an AI agent for restaurant operations by mapping its triggers, inputs, steps, human checkpoints, and intended output. They will leave with a completed agent canvas and a starting framework that can be expanded within their own businesses.
Technology, Food Innovation, and Future-Ready Foodservice
The Technology Innovation Pavilion showcases how AI, robotics, automation, integrated systems, and digital engagement tools are being implemented in foodservice and hospitality operations.
Among the solutions on display are robotics for hospitality and cleaning tasks, food-waste management technologies, AI-powered business tools, membership apps, digital rewards, e-commerce features, and marketing capabilities.
This Pavilion gives operators a chance to view technologies not as standalone products, but in relation to productivity, sustainability, customer engagement, and the everyday demands of running a foodservice business.
International Pavilions and Specialized Showcases
The exhibition floor features a growing international footprint through dedicated country pavilions, including the Italian Pavilion presented by the Italian Trade Agency, along with the Japan Pavilion and Korea Pavilion. There are also specialist showcases like the Pizza Corner organized by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the expanded Vietnam Food & Beverage Ecosystem Pavilion, the WorldChefs Lounge, the Specialty Coffee Association Lounge, and the Nightlife & Entertainment Pavilion.
Furthermore, the Food Tech & Pack Asia Pavilion brings together companies specializing in food technology and packaging solutions, highlighting innovations that support food production, processing, packaging efficiency, operational excellence, and supply chain capabilities across the foodservice ecosystem.
Another new feature is the Hotpot @ Halal Zone Pavilion, which presents Halal-certified products, ingredients, and services for one of Asia’s fastest-growing dining categories. By bringing together international and regional F&B brands, suppliers, and service providers, this Pavilion creates fresh opportunities for trade buyers, distributors, and foodservice operators aiming to cater to the expanding Halal dining market.
Complementing the exhibition is the Fruit & Vegetable Asia Pavilion, a dedicated sourcing platform connecting fresh produce buyers, processors, importers, cold-chain specialists, technology providers, and sustainability leaders. This further strengthens the show’s role as a comprehensive marketplace covering the entire foodservice value chain.
Business Matching, Procurement, and Regional Connections
Beyond its competitions and educational offerings, SIGEP Asia and Restaurant Asia serve as a commercial hub for exhibitors, buyers, distributors, operators, procurement experts, and decision-makers.
The Xcelerate Programme organizes targeted meetings between exhibitors and qualified buyers, while quick-fire networking sessions link exhibiting companies with delegations from the Airline Catering Association and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association.
These programs are designed to support more focused discussions around procurement needs, distribution opportunities, business partnerships, and regional expansion—catering to suppliers and solution providers dealing with ingredients, foodservice equipment, restaurant technology, coffee, bakery, gelato, hospitality operations, and professional services from the region.
Industry Leadership – A Shared Vision for the Region’s F&B Future
Dr Ilaria Cicero, CEO of IEG Asia and Global Exhibition Director of the SIGEP Network, stated, “SIGEP Asia has grown into much more than an international trade fair. Today, it stands as a regional platform where artisan excellence, innovation, technology, and business converge, linking global expertise with the vast opportunities and energy of Asia’s foodservice and hospitality industries.”
She continued, “This year’s edition reflects that growth through its top-tier competitions, international pavilions, professional masterclasses, and thought leadership sessions, while bringing together industry leaders, associations, buyers, exhibitors, and innovators from across the region. Together, they strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted gateway where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are built, and the future of foodservice in Asia is shaped.”
According to Benjamin Boh, President of the Restaurant Association of Singapore, “Restaurant Asia has become a vital platform for the industry to come together—not just to explore new products and technologies, but also to have meaningful discussions about the challenges facing F&B businesses and the practical solutions needed to tackle them. The important industry announcement of the F&B AI and Digital Integration Programme at today’s opening reflects the growing role of the show as a platform for initiatives that support business transformation and long-term competitiveness.”
He added, “The RAS Leadership Symposium builds on that purpose by bringing operators, technology providers, and industry experts together to explore how AI can be applied in practical ways across restaurant operations. By blending strategic dialogue with real-world business insights, Restaurant Asia continues to strengthen its role as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth within Singapore’s F&B industry.”
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Photo & Information Downloads:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/r4mvian9uy5o2h72deap3/AHYVQqAXCkFp2gOz4zY6IeI?rlkey=e0s3i2v8aaxln1uvnk0l3mplo&st=ogs5upgg&dl=0
Photo Credit: IEG Asia
About SIGEP Asia
SIGEP Asia is Southeast Asia’s premier trade event dedicated to artisan Foodservice excellence, uniting global brands, artisan producers, Chefs, cafés, bakeries, gelaterias, pizza operators, and hospitality professionals across sectors such as gelato, pastry, bakery, pizza, chocolate, coffee, and tea.
As the regional extension of SIGEP World in Rimini, Italy, the event highlights the latest trends, craftsmanship, ingredients, equipment, and innovations shaping the future of artisan F&B and premium Foodservice throughout Asia.
About Restaurant Asia
Restaurant Asia is a targeted trade platform for the broader Foodservice and hospitality industry, connecting operators, distributors, procurement professionals, and solution providers across restaurant operations, kitchen equipment, technology, automation, sustainability, hospitality solutions, and nightlife concepts.
The event serves as a venue for practical business growth, operational innovation, and industry networking for Southeast Asia’s evolving Ho.Re.Ca. and Foodservice sectors.
About IEG Asia
IEG Asia is the Singapore-based subsidiary of Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), one of Europe’s leading exhibition organizers. The company develops trade platforms across Southeast Asia focused on Foodservice, hospitality, lifestyle, and specialty industries.
For more information, please contact The Rainmaker Marketing Group Pte Ltd:
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nalini.naidu@therainmaker.com.sg
Dean Johari
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Publicist
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Publicist
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ongweiling@therainmaker.com.sg
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Publicist
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emilychee@therainmaker.com.sg
Released by The Rainmaker Marketing Group Pte Ltd on behalf of SIGEP Asia 2026 and Restaurant Asia
