449 brands & exhibitors from 41 countries, industry leaders & key players, and conference delegates convene to shape the future of F&B, Hospitality and HoReCa in Asia
Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Halls A, B, and C, Level 1, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
16 July to 18 July: 10 AM to 6 PM
restaurantasia.com.sg | sigepasia.com.sg
Singapore, 16 July 2025 – Southeast Asia’s most influential foodservice and hospitality trade shows – Restaurant Asia 2025 and SIGEP Asia 2025 – officially opened their doors this morning at Marina Bay Sands, setting the stage for three dynamic days of innovation, dialogue, and collaborations across the F&B and HoReCa sectors. Jointly organised by the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) and IEG Asia, the twin platforms mark a powerful convergence of industry expertise and global engagement, drawing 449 exhibitors and brands from 41 countries, and anticipating a record 12,000 trade visitors and conference delegates from Singapore and the region.
The opening ceremony this morning was graced by Guest of Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth. Also delivering welcome remarks were Dr Ilaria Cicero, CEO of IEG Asia; Mr Dante Brandi, Ambassador of Italy to Singapore and Brunei; and Mr Benjamin Boh, President of RAS.
Industry Milestones Unveiled: A Transformative Start to the 2025 Edition
This year’s edition unveiled a list of industry milestones, policy announcements, and first-time initiatives aimed at redefining the contours of Asia’s F&B and HoReCa landscape:
- ASEAN Restaurant Associations Alliance (ARAA) formalised
In a significant move towards regional integration, the ARAA will formalise the extension of its collaboration by a further three years, through a multi-nation Memorandum of Understanding signing on Day 2 of the event, involving associations from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. This strategic alliance aims to foster regional workforce development, sustainability practices, and knowledge exchange among ASEAN F&B stakeholders, presenting an unprecedented opportunity for joint transformation across Southeast Asia.
- Establishment of the F&B People Collective
Further reinforcing workforce resilience, the F&B People Collective – Singapore’s first HR-centric platform for the foodservice sector – was launched by RAS and the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP). With quarterly engagements already scheduled, and foundational members including The Soup Spoon, Starbucks, Spa Esprit, Guzman y Gomez, and OUE Restaurants, the Collective aims to elevate manpower practices, talent development, and employee well-being across the sector.
- RAS Symposium 2025: Smart F&B in a New Era
Kicking off the opening day was the highly anticipated RAS Symposium, themed “The Future of Smart F&B Ecosystems”, which offered a compelling line-up of speakers and sessions that explored digitalisation, globalisation, and tech-enhanced operations:
- Xie Pengwei, Deputy CTO of Haidilao, delivered a keynote on automation, robotics, and China’s evolving smart restaurant blueprint.
- A power panel featuring Tencent, Visa, Lark, The Soup Spoon, and A Hot Hideout examined how AI, hyper-personalisation, and predictive analytics are reimagining service delivery and operational models.
- In a rare public appearance, Andrew Chen, the visionary behind China’s number one F&B app, conducted a masterclass on brand stickiness, membership ecosystems, and the integration of AI into customer lifecycle management.
- Belt-and-Road Hospitality and China-ASEAN Dialogue
The IFBA (International Food & Beverage Association) Asia-Pacific & China Forum 2025 convenes high-level public and private sector leaders from China, ASEAN, and the broader Asia-Pacific region in a landmark roundtable focused on Belt-and-Road hospitality strategies, ethnic tourism growth, and international brand expansion.
The forum aims to address tourism diplomacy, cross-cultural brand positioning, and sustainable development, offering timely insights into China’s expanding footprint in Southeast Asia’s hospitality sector. Featured speakers include:
- Wu HongHua, Director, Culture & Tourism Committee, China National Ethnic Trade Promotion Association
- Hua Lei, Secretary-General, Henan Provincial Tourism Association
- Zhang HuiFa, Executive President, Hainan Provincial Tourism Hotel Association
Experiential Zones & Curated Pavilions: A Sensory Showcase
Far beyond a conventional trade exhibition, Restaurant Asia 2025 and SIGEP Asia 2025 deliver a multi-sensory, visually striking showcase that brings together global talents, specialty ingredients, and pioneering technologies:
- 9-metre Chocolate Wall by Janice Wong
Crafted with hundreds of hand-painted bonbons using Valrhona’s single-origin chocolate from Brazil and Madagascar, the interactive edible artwork redefines chocolate storytelling through taste and design. - Panettone World Cup – Asian Selection
For the first time, the Asian leg of the global artisan bakery competition is being staged live, curated by Italian Master Chef Giuseppe Piffaretti, with finalists advancing to Milan in 2026. - Official Launch of MrBeast Burger in Southeast Asia
The world’s most-followed YouTuber, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), makes his Southeast Asian F&B debut, partnering with Xolutions Int. and X-Inc Group to introduce the viral MrBeast Burger brand – with exclusive tasting sessions and a live kitchen demonstration.
Global Brands, National Pavilions & Industry Firsts
Among the 449 participating exhibitors and brands are curated national showcases and launch platforms:
- Technology & Innovation Pavilion (with Conectere)
Live demos of IoT dishwashers, robotics, and AI kitchens, including sustainability case studies led by Ecolab and AT-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy. - Nightlife & Entertainment Pavilion
Cocktail pairings, music, and bar takeovers by Fabbri, Mottra Caviar, and local nightlife collectives. - Tea Pavilion
Taiwan and Vietnam lead daily tea ceremonies, featuring European Tea Master Monica Meschini. - Chocolate Pavilion
Bean-to-bar education, demonstrations, and cocoa tastings by producers from Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Italy, and Peru. - Hosted brands and launches
Mottra Caviar, Cemoi Chocolate (traceable bean-to-bar), Papuan sea prawns, Costa Rican tropical flavours, Thai single-origin chocolate by Infinite Cacao, and more.
Networking, Buyer Engagement & Trade Incentives
Purposeful connections take centre stage as business leaders, buyers, and innovators converge for curated engagement, strategic deal-making, and elevated networking experiences.
- Hosted Buyer Programme
The event hosts over 100 international buyers from ASEAN, APAC, and the Middle East, as they engage in high-value business matching. - NETS VIP Networking Aperitive
Gold sponsor NETS will host a closed-door networking session for C-suites, presenting its suite of digital payment innovations.
