With the cold and rain set to continue for quite some time across much of China, it may not have been the best of conditions for an annual ice cream expo. That was until the star of the show was unveiled. Take a bow, moulded ice cream!
Taking place Monday thru Wednesday of this week, 11-13 October, in Tianjin Municipality was Ice Cream China 2021. And as in many industries of late, the buzzword has been “innovation”.
Hence, the decorative ice creams which come in a variety of shapes and colours, many displaying an intricate level of detail. There are pagoda, terra cotta warriors, even a Chinese “qipao” dress, although both its size and temperature might be barriers to someone actually wearing it.
Attending the expo was Sha Qingtian, General Manager of Nanjing Puyuan Ice Cream Machinery Manufacturing, who makes the trip north every year. He said, “Ice cream manufacturers are pursuing unique shapes and packaging to meet rising demand, making us produce suitable automatic machines with more special functions”, reports the Global Times.
Moulded ice cream is certainly catching on fast. Even with traditional sales impacted by COVID, robust performances have been reported by companies such as silicone mould manufacturer, Nicole Mould. Their CEO, Han Jun, said at the expo they have cooperations with over 300 ice cream producers in China.
And the end customers are loving it. Feng Chunyu, a visitor to Ice Cream China 2021, said, “I see hundreds of ice creams in different shapes. None of us can resist these cute ‘sweet temptations’ with traditional Chinese elements”.
Sha also believes moulded ice cream to be an excellent opportunity for the entire ice cream industry chain, and that such new and unique ice cream products shall appeal to young consumers especially.
“The future of ice cream industry is very promising in China”, he said.
